Analysis of Sonnet CCLVII:

George Henry Boker 1823 (Philadelphia) – 1890 (Philadelphia)



They at the altar pledge their formal vow,
Then go, and straight forget that vow was made--
These common lovers, making marriage trade,
Who often wed sore heart to moody brow.
Not thus we married, for the temple now
Bends o'er us both, in which is daily said
Love's sacrament, and ever on thy head,
Glistens the chaplet of the orange bough.
Immortal bride, in every grateful prayer
My heart renews our holy marriage tie,
Vows at thy voice, thy touch, thy laugh, thy sigh;
And Hope, white-favored, through the sunny air
Points with a solemn smile to mansions fair,
As Heaven's abode for love that cannot die.


Scheme ABBAACCADEEDDE
Poetic Form
Metre 1101011101 1101011111 1101010101 1101111101 1111010101 11011011101 1100010111 10110101 01010100101 11011010101 1111111111 0111010101 1101011101 11001111101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 615
Words 110
Sentences 4
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 474
Words per stanza (avg) 108
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

33 sec read
67

George Henry Boker

George Henry Boker was an American poet, playwright, and diplomat. more…

All George Henry Boker poems | George Henry Boker Books

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