Sonnet XXI: Why Do I Live

Mary Darby Robinson 1757 (England) – 1800 (England)



Why do I live to loath the cheerful day,
To shun the smiles of Fame, and mark the hours
On tardy pinions move, while ceaseless show'rs
Down my wan cheek in lucid currents stray?
My tresses all abound, nor gems display,
Nor scents Arabian! on my path no flow'rs
Imbibe the morn's resuscitating pow'rs,
For one blank sorrow, saddens all my way!
As slow the radiant Sun of reason rose,
Through tears my dying parents saw it shine;
A brother's frailties, swell'd the tide of woes,-
And, keener far, maternal griefs were mine!
Phaon! if soon these weary eyes shall close,
Oh! must that task, that mournful task, be thine?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
61

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAABBACDCDED
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 611
Words 113
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Mary Darby Robinson

Mary Robinson was an English actress, poet, dramatist, novelist, and celebrity figure. more…

All Mary Darby Robinson poems | Mary Darby Robinson Books

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    "Sonnet XXI: Why Do I Live" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/26802/sonnet-xxi:-why-do-i-live>.

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