To Edward Fitzgerald

Robert Browning 1812 (Camberwell) – 1889 (Venice)



I chanced upon a new book yesterday;
I opened it, and, where my finger lay
'Twixt page and uncut page, these words I read -
Some six or seven at most - and learned thereby
That you, Fitzgerald, whom by ear and eye
She never knew, "thanked God my wife was dead."
Aye, dead! and were yourself alive, good Fitz,
How to return you thanks would task my wits.
Kicking you seems the common lot of curs -
While more appropriate greeting lends you grace,
Surely to spit there glorifies your face -
Spitting from lips once sanctified by hers.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 03, 2023

30 sec read
84

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABCCBDDDEEF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 529
Words 103
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 12

Robert Browning

Robert Browning was the father of poet Robert Browning. more…

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    "To Edward Fitzgerald" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/30437/to-edward-fitzgerald>.

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