Analysis of Lover In All Shapes

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749 (Frankfurt) – 1832 (Weimar)



To be like a fish,
Brisk and quick, is my wish;
If thou cam'st with thy line.
Thou wouldst soon make me thine.
To be like a fish,
Brisk and quick, is my wish.

Oh, were I a steed!
Thou wouldst love me indeed.
Oh, were I a car
Fit to bear thee afar!
Oh, were I a steed!
Thou wouldst love me indeed.

I would I were gold
That thy fingers might hold!
If thou boughtest aught then,
I'd return soon again.
I would I were gold
That thy fingers might hold!

I would I were true,
And my sweetheart still new!
To be faithful I'd swear,
And would go away ne'er.
I would I were true,
And my sweetheart still new!

I would I were old,
And wrinkled and cold,
So that if thou said'st No,
I could stand such a blow!
I would I were old,
And wrinkled and cold.

An ape I would be,
Full of mischievous glee;
If aught came to vex thee,
I'd plague and perplex thee.
An ape I would be,
Full of mischievous glee

As a lamb I'd behave,
As a lion be brave,
As a lynx clearly see,
As a fox cunning be.
As a lamb I'd behave,
As a lion be brave.

Whatever I were,
All on thee I'd confer;
With the gifts of a prince
My affection evince.
Whatever I were,
All on thee I'd confer.

As nought diff'rent can make me,
As I am thou must take me!
If I'm not good enough,
Thou must cut thine own stuff.
As nought diff'rent can make me,
As I am thou must take me!


Scheme AAbbAA CCddCC EEffEE GGhhGG EEiiEE JJjjJJ KKjjKK LLmmLL JJnnJJ
Poetic Form
Metre 11101 101111 1111111 111111 11101 101111 10101 111101 10101 111101 10101 111101 11101 111011 11111 101101 11101 111011 11101 01111 111011 011011 11101 01111 11101 01001 1111111 111101 11101 01001 11111 111001 111111 110011 11111 111001 101101 101011 101101 101101 101101 101011 1010 111101 101101 101001 1010 111101 1111111 1111111 111101 111111 1111111 1111111
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,272
Words 276
Sentences 25
Stanzas 9
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6
Lines Amount 54
Letters per line (avg) 18
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 109
Words per stanza (avg) 30
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 09, 2023

1:26 min read
60

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer and politician. more…

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