Unsung

Nettie Palmer 1885 (Bendigo) – 1964 (Hawthorn)



WHEN shall I make a song for you, my love?   
 When you are nigh me?   
 Not so, for then the hours unnamed go by me,   
Flocking like dove on dove.   
  
When shall that song for you be found, my mate?           
 When I wait lonely?   
 Not so, for then am I a mourner only,   
Begging without the gate.   
  
Never in words that happy song will rise,   
 Yet you will feel it,—           
 Through days your love makes glad I shall reveal it,   
Through years your love makes wise.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

26 sec read
55

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBA CBBC DEED
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 481
Words 89
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4

Nettie Palmer

Janet Gertrude "Nettie" Palmer was an Australian poet, essayist and Australia's leading literary critic of her day. more…

All Nettie Palmer poems | Nettie Palmer Books

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    "Unsung" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/28385/unsung>.

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