Analysis of Bound for Sourabaya!



OH, the moon shines bright, and we sail to-night,   
 And we’re bound for Sourabaya!   
So it’s ‘Farewell, Jane!’ for we’re off again   
 With the turning of the tide!   
Oh, the Java girls haven’t got no curls,           
 But they’ll meet us on the Praya,   
And, Malay or Dutch, well, the odds ain’t much,   
 And the ocean’s deep and wide!   

We’re bound for Sourabaya, boys,   
 Where the girls are kind and brown!           
By the break of day we’ll be far away!   
 Farewell to Sydney town!   

Oh, the girls look glum, when the parting’s come,   
 And we’re bound for Sourabaya!   
And they weep and wail, cos’ the ship must sail           
 With the turning of the tide!   
But we soon forget, when our sheets are wet   
 And the dancing dolphins play—ah,   
And the gale pipes high in the mackerel sky,   
 And the ocean’s deep and wide!           

We’re bound for Sourabaya, boys,   
 Where the girls are kind and brown,   
And they hope and pray that we’ve come to stay!   
 Farewell to Sydney town!   

When the coin’s all gone, and the hatches on,           
 And we’re bound for Sourabaya,   
There’s a kiss for Nell, and a long farewell,   
 With the turning of the tide!   
But there’s not much wrong, and it don’t last long,   
 Tho’ she mourns you for a day—ah!           
And she wears no black if you don’t come back!   
 For the ocean’s deep and wide!   

And we’re bound for Sourabaya, boys,   
 Where the girls are kind and brown,   
So we’ll drink once more,           
 While we’re on the shore,   
   Farewell to Sydney town!


Scheme xAxBxaxB CDeD xAxBxfxB CDeD xAxBxfxb cDggD
Poetic Form
Metre 1011101111 00111 111110101 1010101 101011111 1111101 0101110111 0010101 01111 1011101 1011111101 11101 101111011 00111 0110110111 1010101 11101110111 00101011 00111001001 0010101 01111 1011101 0110111111 11101 1011100101 00111 101110011 1010101 1111101111 11111011 0111111111 1010101 001111 1011101 11111 10101 11101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,592
Words 260
Sentences 18
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 8, 4, 8, 4, 8, 5
Lines Amount 37
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 171
Words per stanza (avg) 43
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:18 min read
62

Charles Henry Souter

Charles Henry Souter was a Scottish born poet and artist who lived for much of his life in Australia. He was a qualified medical practitioner and worked often as a locum doctor while finding the time to make a significant contribution to South Australian literature. more…

All Charles Henry Souter poems | Charles Henry Souter Books

0 fans

Discuss this Charles Henry Souter poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Bound for Sourabaya!" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 3 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/5226/bound-for-sourabaya%21>.

    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!

    More poems by

    Charles Henry Souter

    »

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    28
    days
    12
    hours
    26
    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?

    »
    Who wrote a famed poem about the Crimean War?
    A Alfred Lord Tennyson
    B Alfred E. Neuman
    C Oscar Wilde
    D Alfred Douglas