Analysis of Christmas Greetings
Christmas comes but once a year.
Though by nature snappy,
Let us, as we may, appear
Merry, friend, and happy!
Buckle to; and when you meet your
Thunderstricken fellow-creature,
Show the broad, indulgent smile
Of th' ingenuous crocodile!
Look as if you'd backed a winner!
Laugh, you miserable sinner!
Brother, Christmas Day has come.
Can't you seek for inspi-
ration in the turkey, plum-
pudding, beef, and mince-pie?
Brave it out, and tho' you sit on
Tenterhooks, remain a Briton;
You can only do your best;
Boxing Day's a day of rest!
Throw aside your small digestive
Eccentricities. Be festive!
Christmas Day is on the wing.
Are you feeling wroth with
Any one for anything?
Beg his pardon forthwith!
Though the right is all on your side,
Say it isn't; say 'Of course I'd
No intention - very rude -
Shocking taste - but misconstrued' -
Then (while I admit it's horri-
fying) tell the man you're sorry!
Christmas Day will soon have flown.
If, despite persuasion,
You resolve to be alone
On the glad occasion,
Better (do as I have done!)
Vanish with a scatter-gun;
If you have to see it through,
(Better do what I shall do!)
Dining quietly at the Club'll
Save us from a world of trouble!
Scheme | ABABXCDDCC EBEXXFGGHH IXIXJJKKAB LFLFFFMMDX |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Etheree (28%) Tetractys (25%) |
Metre | 1011101 111010 1111101 101010 10101111 11010 1010101 111010010 11111010 11100010 1010111 11111 1000101 101011 11101111 101010 1110111 1010111 10111010 0100110 1011101 111011 101110 111011 10111111 11101111 1010101 101101 1110111 1101110 1011111 101010 1011101 101010 1011111 1010101 1111111 1011111 10100101 11101110 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,156 |
Words | 216 |
Sentences | 18 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 10, 10, 10, 10 |
Lines Amount | 40 |
Letters per line (avg) | 23 |
Words per line (avg) | 5 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 227 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 53 |
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Submitted on August 03, 2020
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:07 min read
- 26 Views
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"Christmas Greetings" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/55935/christmas-greetings>.
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