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The Debt Unpayable

Francis William Bourdillon 1852 (Runcorn) – 1921

What have I given,
Bold sailor on the sea?
In earth or heaven,
That you should die for me?

What can I give,
O soldier, leal and brave,
Long as I live,
To pay the life you gave?

What tithe or part
Can I return to thee,
O stricken heart,
That thou shouldst break for me?

The wind of Death
For you has slain life's flowers,
It withereth
(God grant) all weeds in ours.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

23 sec read
370

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB XCXC DBDB EFEF
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 372
Words 76
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4
Full analysis for The Debt Unpayable »

Francis William Bourdillon

Francis William Bourdillon was a British poet and translator. more…

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    "The Debt Unpayable" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/13976/the-debt-unpayable>.

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