Analysis of They Should Have Provided
Constantine P. Cavafy 1863 (Alexandria) – 1933 (Alexandria)
I have almost been reduced to a homeless pauper.
This fatal city, Antioch,
has consumed all my money;
this fatal city with its expensive life.
But I am young and in excellent health.
My command of Greek is superb
(I know all there is about Aristotle, Plato;
orators, poets, you name it.)
I have an idea of military affairs,
and have friends among the mercenary chiefs.
I am on the inside of administration as well.
Last year I spent six months in Alexandria;
I have some knowledge (and this is useful) of affairs there:
intentions of the Malefactor, and villainies, et cetera.
Therefore I believe that I am fully
qualified to serve this country,
my beloved homeland Syria.
In whatever capacity they place me I shall strive
to be useful to the country. This is my intent.
Then again, if they thwart me with their methods --
we know those able people: need we talk about it now?
if they thwart me, I am not to blame.
First, I shall apply to Zabinas,
and if this moron does not appreciate me,
I shall go to his rival Grypos.
And if this idiot does not hire me,
I shall go straight to Hyrcanos.
One of the three will want me however.
And my conscience is not troubled
about not worrying about my choice.
All three harm Syria equally.
But, a ruined man, why is it my fault.
Wretched man, I am trying to make ends meet.
The almighty gods should have provided
and created a fourth, good man.
Gladly would I have joined him.
Scheme | AXBX XXXXCXXDXD BBD XXXXX CBCBC A XXB XXXXX |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111101101010 1101010 1011110 11010110101 1111001001 10111101 111110110010 10010111 111010110001 0110101001 1110011001011 11111100100 11110011101011 01010100011100 110111110 1011110 1011100 0100100111111 1110101011101 10111111110 11110101110111 111111111 1110111 0111110101 11111101 01110011101 111111 110111110 01101110 0111000111 111100100 1010111111 10111101111 0010111010 00100111 1011111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,389 |
Words | 266 |
Sentences | 22 |
Stanzas | 8 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 10, 3, 5, 5, 1, 3, 5 |
Lines Amount | 36 |
Letters per line (avg) | 31 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 138 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 33 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:19 min read
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"They Should Have Provided" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/7264/they-should-have-provided>.
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