Analysis of Mae Marsh, Motion Picture Actress

Vachel Lindsay 1879 (Springfield) – 1931 (Springfield)



The arts are old, old as the stones
From which man carved the sphinx austere.
Deep are the days the old arts bring:
Ten thousand years of yesteryear.

She is madonna in an art
As wild and young as her sweet eyes:
A frail dew flower from this hot lamp
That is today's divine surprise.

Despite raw lights and gloating mobs
She is not seared: a picture still:
Rare silk the fine director's hand
May weave for magic if he will.

When ancient films have crumbled like
Papyrus rolls of Egypt's day,
Let the dust speak: "Her pride was high,
All but the artist hid away:

"Kin to the myriad artist clan
Since time began, whose work is dear."
The deep new ages come with her,
Tomorrow's years of yesteryear.


Scheme XAXA XBXB XCXC XDXD XAXA
Poetic Form Quatrain 
Metre 01111101 11110101 11010111 1101110 11010011 11011011 011101111 11010101 01110101 11110101 11010101 11110111 11011101 111101 10110111 11010101 110100101 11011111 01110110 011110
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 687
Words 135
Sentences 7
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 20
Letters per line (avg) 27
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 108
Words per stanza (avg) 26
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

41 sec read
108

Vachel Lindsay

Nicholas Vachel Lindsay was an American poet. more…

All Vachel Lindsay poems | Vachel Lindsay Books

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