To Vera, Who Asked A Song

Edith Nesbit 1858 (Kennington, Surrey ) – 1924 (New Romney, Kent)



IF I only had time!
I could make you a rhyme.
But my time is kept flying
By smiling and sighing
And living and dying for you.
The song-seed, I sow it,
I water and hoe it,
But never can grow it.
Ah, traitress, you know it!
What is a poor poet to do?

Ah, let me take breath!
I am harried to death
By the loves and the graces
That crowd where your face is
That lurk in your laces and throng.
Call them off for a minute,
Once let me begin it
The devil is in it
If I can not spin it
As sweet as a linnet, your song!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

34 sec read
50

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCDDDDC EEFFGXDDDG
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 499
Words 114
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 10, 10

Edith Nesbit

Edith Nesbit (married name Edith Bland) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on more than 60 books of children's literature. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later affiliated to the Labour Party. more…

All Edith Nesbit poems | Edith Nesbit Books

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