Analysis of How few are we. Probably three...

Boris Pasternak 1890 (Moscow) – 1960 (Peredelkino)



How few are we. Probably three
In all-coallike, burning, infernal
Beneath the grey bark of the tree
Of wisdom, and clouds, and eternal
Debate on verse, transport, the part
The army will play-and on art.

We used to be human. We're eras,
We're trains, in a caravan ripping
Through woods, to the sighing and fears
Of engines, and groans of the sleepers.
We'll rush in, and circle in the throes
Of being, like a whirlwind of crows.

A miss! Much too late you will see it.
Thus galloping wind in the morning
In passing a straw pile will buffet-
The blow will live on as a warning
To riotous tree-tops, and mingle
With their wrangles over the shingles.


Scheme ABABCC XDXXEE XDXDBX
Poetic Form
Metre 11111001 01110010 01011101 110010010 01110101 01011011 111110110 11001010 11101001 110011010 110010001 11010111 011111111 110010010 010011110 011111010 110011010 111010010
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 636
Words 120
Sentences 9
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 167
Words per stanza (avg) 39
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
62

Boris Pasternak

Boris Leonidovich Pasternak was a Russian poet, novelist, and literary translator. more…

All Boris Pasternak poems | Boris Pasternak Books

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