Analysis of The Fortune-Teller

Thomas Moore 1779 (Dublin) – 1852 (Bromham)



Down in the valley come meet me to-night,
And I'll tell you your fortune truly
As ever 'twas told, by the new-moon's light,
To a young maiden, shining as newly.

But, for the world, let no one be nigh,
Lest haply the stars should deceive me,
Such secrets between you and me and the sky
Should never go farther, believe me.

If at that hour the heavens be not dim,
My science shall call up before you
A male apparition -- the image of him
Whose destiny 'tis to adore you.

And if to that phantom you'll be kind,
So fondly around you he'll hover,
You'll hardly, my dear, any difference find
'Twixt him and a true living lover.

Down at your feet, in the pale moonlight,
He'll kneel, with a warmth of devotion --
An ardour, of which such an innocent sprite
You'd scarcely believe had a notion.

What other thoughts and events may arise,
As in destiny's book I've not seen them,
Must only be left to the stars and your eyes
To settle, ere morning, between them.


Scheme ABAB CBCB DEDE FGFG AHAH IJIJ
Poetic Form Quatrain 
Metre 1001011111 011111010 1101110111 1011010110 110111111 11011011 11001101001 110110011 11110010111 110111011 0101001011 110011011 011110111 110011110 11011101001 110011010 11110011 111011010 1111111001 110011010 1101001101 10111111 11011101011 110110011
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 960
Words 182
Sentences 7
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 30
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 121
Words per stanza (avg) 30
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 26, 2023

57 sec read
127

Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore was an Irish poet singer songwriter and entertainer now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and the The Last Rose of Summer more…

All Thomas Moore poems | Thomas Moore Books

2 fans

Discuss this Thomas Moore poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Fortune-Teller" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/36908/the-fortune-teller>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    1
    day
    23
    hours
    37
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    The Baltimore Ravens’ team name was inspired by which American poet?
    A Edgar Allan Poe
    B Emily Dickinson
    C Walt Whitman
    D Langston Hughes