Section III: Decompositions#

John Keats#

Ode to a Nightingale#

Stanza 1#

Line 1

My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains

my heart | aches and | a drow- | sy numb- | ness pain

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

5

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.5

Cumulative Stresses

5

Cumulative Total

10

Cumulative Speed

0.5

Line 2

My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,

my sense | as though | of hem- | lock I | had drunk

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

5

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.5

Cumulative Stresses

10

Cumulative Total

20

Cumulative Speed

0.5

Line 3

Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains

Or emp- | tied some | dull o- | pi-ate | to the drains

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲡⲠ\)

Note

opiate” is a dactyl (\(Ⲡⲡⲡ\)) and “to the drains” is an anapest (\(ⲡⲡⲠ\)).

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

4

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.4

Cumulative Stresses

14

Cumulative Total

30

Cumulative Speed

0.467

Line 4

One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk:

one min- | ute past | and Le- | the wards | had sunk:

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

5

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.5

Cumulative Stresses

19

Cumulative Total

40

Cumulative Speed

0.475

Line 5

‘Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,

Tis not | through en- | vy of | thy hap- | py lot

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

5

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.5

Cumulative Stresses

24

Cumulative Total

50

Cumulative Speed

0.48

Line 6

But being too happy in thine happiness,—

But be- | too hap- | py in | thine hap- | pi-ness

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡ\)

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡ\)

Line Stresses

4

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.4

Cumulative Stresses

28

Cumulative Total

60

Cumulative Speed

0.467

Line 7

That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees

That thou | light-wing- | ed Dry- | ad of | the tree

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

6

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.6

Cumulative Stresses

34

Cumulative Total

70

Cumulative Speed

0.486

Line 8

In some melodious plot

In some | me-lo | di-ous plot

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

3

Line Total

7

Line Speed

0.429

Cumulative Stresses

37

Cumulative Total

77

Cumulative Speed

0.481

Line 9

Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,

Of beech- | en green | and sha- | dows num- | ber-less

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡ\)

Line Stresses

4

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.4

Cumulative Stresses

41

Cumulative Total

87

Cumulative Speed

0.471

Line 10

Singest of summer in full-throated ease.

Sing-est | of sum- | mer in | full-throat- | ed ease

Formal Expression

\(ⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

6

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.6

Cumulative Stresses

47

Cumulative Total

97

Cumulative Speed

0.485

Stanza 2#

Line 1

O, for a draught of vintage! that hath been

O, for | a draught | of vin- | tage! that | hath been

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

5

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.5

Cumulative Stresses

52

Cumulative Total

107

Cumulative Speed

0.486

Line 2

Cool’d a long age in the deep-delved earth,

Cool'd a | long age | in the | deep-delvd | earth,

Formal Expression

\(ⲠⲡⲠⲠⲡⲡⲠⲠⲠ\)

Line Stresses

6

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.6

Cumulative Stresses

58

Cumulative Total

117

Cumulative Speed

0.496

Line 3

Tasting of Flora and the country green,

Tast-ing | of Flo- | ra and | the coun- | try green,

Formal Expression

\(ⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

5

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.5

Cumulative Stresses

63

Cumulative Total

127

Cumulative Speed

0.496

Line 4

Dance, and Provençal song, and sunburnt mirth!

Dance, and | Pro-ven- | çal song, | and sun- | burnt mirth!

Note

This line presents several difficulties in metering. In particular “Provençal” and “sunburnt mirth” are ambiguous when it comes to stresses. It really depends on how the poem is read. Alternative readings of this line might result in \(ⲠⲠⲡⲡⲠⲠⲡⲡⲠⲠ\) or \(ⲠⲡⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲠⲠⲠ\). Since the poem is predominantly iambic, the closet iambic interpretation has been adopted.

Formal Expression

\(ⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

5

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.5

Cumulative Stresses

68

Cumulative Total

137

Cumulative Speed

0.496

Line 5

O for a beaker full of the warm South,

O for | a bea- | ker full | of the | warm South,

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲠⲠ\)

Line Stresses

5

Line Total

10

Line Speed

0.5

Cumulative Stresses

73

Cumulative Total

147

Cumulative Speed

0.497

Line 6

Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene,

Full of | the true, | the blush- | ful Hip- | po-crene,

Note

Trochee start, then iambs (allowing elision/compression).

Formal Expression

\(ⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = Ⲡⲡ[\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ]\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 7

With beaded bubbles winking at the brim,

With bead- | ed bub- | bles wink- | ing at | the brim,

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 8

And purple-stained mouth;

And pur- | ple-stain- | ed mouth;

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^3 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 9

That I might drink, and leave the world unseen,

That I | might drink, | and leave | the world | un-seen,

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 10

And with thee fade away into the forest dim:

And with | thee fade | a-way | in-to | the for- | est dim:

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^6 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Stanza 3#

Line 1

Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget

Fade far | a-way, | dis-solve, | and quite | for-get

Note

Spondee start and then iambs.

Formal Expression

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = ⲠⲠ[\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ]\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 2

What thou among the leaves hast never known,

What thou | a-mong | the leaves | hast nev- | er known,

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = \prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 3

The weariness, the fever, and the fret

The wear- | i-ness, | the fe- | ver, and | the fret

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 4

Here, where men sit and hear each other groan;

Here, where | men sit | and hear | each oth- | er groan;

Note

Spondee start and then iambs.

Formal Expression

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ = ⲠⲠ[\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ]\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 5

Where palsy shakes a few, sad, last gray hairs,

Where pal- | sy shakes | a few, | sad, last | gray hairs,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲠⲠⲠⲠ\)

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲠⲠⲠⲠ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 6

Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies;

Where youth | grows pale, | and spec- | tre-thin, | and dies;

Note

Second foot is a spondee.

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 7

Where but to think is to be full of sorrow

Where but | to think | is to | be full | of sor- | row

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡ\)

Note

Feminine ending.

Formal Expression

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡ = (\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ)ⲡ\)

Line Stresses

Line Total

Line Speed

Cumulative Stresses

Cumulative Total

Cumulative Speed

Line 28

And leaden-eyed despairs,

And lead- | en-eyed | de-spairs,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic trimeter: \(\prod_1^3 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 29

Where Beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes,

Where Beau- | ty can- | not keep | her lus- | trous eyes,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 30

Or new Love pine at them beyond to-morrow.

Or new | Love pine | at them | be-yond | to-mor- | row.

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡ\)

  • Iambic pentameter with feminine ending: \((\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ)ⲡ\)

Stanza 4#

Line 31

Away! away! for I will fly to thee,

A-way! | a-way! | for I | will fly | to thee,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 32

Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards,

Not char- | i-ot- | ed by | Bac-chus | and his pards,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter (treating “charioted” as trisyllabic, “Bacchus” as disyllabic): \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 33

But on the viewless wings of Poesy,

But on | the view- | less wings | of Po- | e-sy,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 34

Though the dull brain perplexes and retards:

Though the | dull brain | per-plex- | es and | re-tards:

\(ⲡⲡⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠ\)

  • Pyrrhic, spondee, iamb, pyrrhic, iamb: \(ⲡⲡ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲡ.ⲡⲠ\) (highly varied)

Line 35

Already with thee! tender is the night,

Al-read- | y with | thee! ten- | der is | the night,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter (treating “Already” as \(ⲡⲠ\), “tender” as \(Ⲡⲡ\)): \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 36

And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne,

And hap- | ly the | Queen-Moon | is on | her throne,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲡⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic base, third foot spondee: \(ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 37

Cluster’d around by all her starry Fays;

Clus-ter'd | a-round | by all | her star- | ry Fays;

\(ⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Trochaic start, then iambs: \(Ⲡⲡ.(\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ)\)

Line 38

But here there is no light,

But here | there is | no light,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic trimeter: \(\prod_1^3 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 39

Save what from heaven is with the breezes blown

Save what | from heav'n | is with | the breez- | es blown

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 40

Through verdurous glooms and winding mossy ways.

Through ver- | du-rous | glooms and | wind-ing | mos-sy ways.

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Spondee, pyrrhic, iamb, iamb, iamb: \(ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲡ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Stanza 5#

Line 41

I cannot see what flowers are at my feet,

I can- | not see | what flow'rs | are at | my feet,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 42

Nor what soft incense hangs upon the boughs,

Nor what | soft in- | cense hangs | up-on | the boughs,

\(ⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic base, second foot spondee: \(ⲡⲠ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 43

But, in embalmed darkness, guess each sweet

But, in | em-balm- | ed dark- | ness, guess | each sweet

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 44

Wherewith the seasonable month endows

Where-with | the sea- | son-a- | ble month | en-dows

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter (treating “seasonable” as trisyllabic \(Ⲡⲡⲡ\) or similar): \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 45

The grass, the thicket, and the fruit-tree wild;

The grass, | the thick- | et, and | the fruit- | tree wild;

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲠⲠ\)

  • Iambic base, final foot spondee: \((\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ).ⲠⲠ\)

Line 46

White hawthorn, and the pastoral eglantine;

White haw- | thorn, and | the pas- | tor-al | eg-lan-tine;

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠ\)

  • Spondee start, iamb, iamb, pyrrhic, iamb: \(ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲡ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 47

Fast fading violets cover’d up in leaves;

Fast fad- | ing vi- | o-lets | cov-er'd | up in leaves;

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Spondee, iamb, pyrrhic, iamb, iamb: \(ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲡ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 48

And mid-May’s eldest child,

And mid- | May's el- | dest child,

\(ⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iamb, spondee, iamb: \(ⲡⲠ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 49

The coming musk-rose, full of dewy wine,

The com- | ing musk- | rose, full | of dew- | y wine,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic base, third foot spondee: \(ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 50

The murmurous haunt of flies on summer eves.

The mur- | mur-ous | haunt of | flies on | sum-mer eves.

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Stanza 6#

Line 51

Darkling I listen; and, for many a time

Dark-ling | I lis- | ten; and, | for man- | y a time

\(ⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Trochaic start, then iambs: \(Ⲡⲡ.(\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ)\)

Line 52

I have been half in love with easeful Death,

I have | been half | in love | with ease- | ful Death,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 53

Call’d him soft names in many a mused rhyme,

Call'd him | soft names | in man- | y a | mus-ed rhyme,

\(ⲠⲡⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠ\)

  • Trochee, spondee, iamb, pyrrhic, iamb: \(Ⲡⲡ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲡ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 54

To take into the air my quiet breath;

To take | in-to | the air | my qui- | et breath;

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 55

Now more than ever seems it rich to die,

Now more | than ev- | er seems | it rich | to die,

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Spondee start, then iambs: \(ⲠⲠ.(\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ)\)

Line 56

To cease upon the midnight with no pain,

To cease | up-on | the mid- | night with | no pain,

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 57

While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad

While thou | art pour- | ing forth | thy soul | a-broad

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Spondee start, then iambs: \(ⲠⲠ.(\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ)\)

Line 58

In such an ecstasy!

In such | an ec- | sta-sy!

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic trimeter: \(\prod_1^3 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 59

Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain—

Still wouldst | thou sing, | and I | have ears | in vain—

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Spondee start, then iambs: \(ⲠⲠ.(\prod_1^4 ⲡⲠ)\)

Line 60

To thy high requiem become a sod.

To thy | high req- | ui-em | be-come | a sod.

\(ⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic base, spondee second foot, pyrrhic third: \(ⲡⲠ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲡ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Stanza 7#

Line 61

Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!

Thou wast | not born | for death, | im-mor- | tal Bird!

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 62

No hungry generations tread thee down;

No hun- | gry gen- | e-ra- | tions tread | thee down;

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 63

The voice I hear this passing night was heard

The voice | I hear | this pass- | ing night | was heard

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 64

In ancient days by emperor and clown:

In an- | cient days | by em- | per-or | and clown:

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic base, pyrrhic variation: \(ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲡ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 65

Perhaps the self-same song that found a path

Per-haps | the self- | same song | that found | a path

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic base, third foot spondee: \(ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 66

Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,

Through the | sad heart | of Ruth, | when, sick | for home,

\(ⲡⲡⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Pyrrhic, spondee, then iambs: \(ⲡⲡ.ⲠⲠ.(\prod_1^3 ⲡⲠ)\)

Line 67

She stood in tears amid the alien corn;

She stood | in tears | a-mid | the a- | lien corn;

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 68

The same that oft-times hath

The same | that oft- | times hath

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic trimeter: \(\prod_1^3 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 69

Charm’d magic casements, opening on the foam

Charm'd mag- | ic case- | ments, op'- | ning on | the foam

\(ⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲡⲡⲠ\)

  • Spondee, iamb, iamb, pyrrhic, iamb: \(ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲡ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 70

Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

Of per- | i-lous | seas, in | faer-y | lands for-lorn.

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Stanza 8#

Line 71

Forlorn! the very word is like a bell

For-lorn! | the ver- | y word | is like | a bell

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 72

To toll me back from thee to my sole self!

To toll | me back | from thee | to my | sole self!

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 73

Adieu! the fancy cannot cheat so well

A-dieu! | the fan- | cy can- | not cheat | so well

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 74

As she is fam’d to do, deceiving elf.

As she | is fam'd | to do, | de-ceiv- | ing elf.

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 75

Adieu! adieu! thy plaintive anthem fades

A-dieu! | a-dieu! | thy plain- | tive an- | them fades

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 76

Past the near meadows, over the still stream,

Past the | near mead- | ows, o- | ver the | still stream,

\(ⲠⲡⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Mostly iambic, first foot trochee or spondee: \((Ⲡ/Ⲡ)Ⲡ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 77

Up the hill-side; and now ‘tis buried deep

Up the | hill-side; | and now | 'tis bur- | ied deep

\(ⲠⲡⲠⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Mostly iambic, first foot trochee or spondee: \((Ⲡ/Ⲡ)Ⲡ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 78

In the next valley-glades:

In the | next val- | ley-glades:

\(ⲡⲡⲠⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Pyrrhic, spondee, iamb: \(ⲡⲡ.ⲠⲠ.ⲡⲠ\)

Line 79

Was it a vision, or a waking dream?

Was it | a vis- | ion, or | a wak- | ing dream?

\(ⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

  • Iambic pentameter: \(\prod_1^5 ⲡⲠ\)

Line 80

Fled is that music:—Do I wake or sleep?

Fled is | that mu- | sic:—Do | I wake | or sleep?

\(ⲠⲡⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠⲡⲠ\)

Slyvia Plath#

Mad Girl’s Love Song#

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
And arbitrary blackness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell’s fires fade:
Exit seraphim and Satan’s men:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you’d return the way you said,
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)