Marian

George Meredith 1828 (Portsmouth, Hampshire) – 1909 (Box Hill, Surrey)



I

She can be as wise as we,
And wiser when she wishes;
She can knit with cunning wit,
And dress the homely dishes.
She can flourish staff or pen,
And deal a wound that lingers;
She can talk the talk of men,
And touch with thrilling fingers.

II

Match her ye across the sea,
Natures fond and fiery;
Ye who zest the turtle's nest
With the eagle's eyrie.
Soft and loving is her soul,
Swift and lofty soaring;
Mixing with its dove-like dole
Passionate adoring.

III

Such a she who'll match with me?
In flying or pursuing,
Subtle wiles are in her smiles
To set the world a-wooing.
She is steadfast as a star,
And yet the maddest maiden:
She can wage a gallant war,
And give the peace of Eden.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

41 sec read
86

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXXBCBC AAXADEDE AEXEXFXF
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 693
Words 134
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8

George Meredith

George Meredith was an English novelist and poet of the Victorian era. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature seven times. more…

All George Meredith poems | George Meredith Books

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