Analysis of Featuring Scottish Mettle (poem by douglas blair)
Alexander Peden, outcast
It was that Sabbath.
Last one inside the Kirk.
Preacher Peden shook hands
Smiling with that slight hint of courage…
Brethren, women this is it.
Thanks for showing
In spite of drizzle.
So what is drizzle
In face of our trusty Covenant
And pledge, to the bloods.
No King, no stench of
Political favour, Bishoping
From postures of convenience
And personal gain.
Will head up the church. Never.
Rather our presbyteries
Selecting each good shepherd
Guide, a father in faith, bringer
Of peace, love and hope.
We have had battles, deaths, tortures
Cries of hatred filling the air.
Disturbing the sheep in the heather.
(and so went his message
For extra-long duration.)
Then to the large front door
Parishioners passing through
Solemn silence, heads lowered.
Alexander, the Man of God
Raps the Big Door.
Thrice. With force.
Walking staff.
(Shocking some larks to launch
And fly off with the news.)
Locking it. He does.
Sobs manifold in our hearing.
The hiding times begun.
Sermons under moon and stars.
Solemn spires of Rock.
Blood spent. Not just talk.
Scheme | X XABCXDEEXXXAXXF BGFXXXFCHIXG XIXXXXXDHXXX |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Etheree (40%) Tetractys (25%) |
Metre | 010101 11110 110101 101011 101111110 1010111 1110 01110 11110 0111010100 01101 11111 010011 1101010 01001 1110110 10101 0101110 1010011 11101 11110110 11101001 010010010 011110 1101110 110111 0100101 1010110 0100111 1011 111 101 101111 011101 10111 11001010 010101 1010101 10111 11111 |
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 1,112 |
Words | 225 |
Sentences | 26 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 1, 15, 12, 12 |
Lines Amount | 40 |
Letters per line (avg) | 21 |
Words per line (avg) | 5 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 212 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 45 |
About this poem
met·tle noun a person's ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way. "the team showed their true mettle in the second half"
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Written on April 27, 2023
Submitted by dougb.19255 on April 27, 2023
Modified by dougb.19255 on April 27, 2023
- 1:07 min read
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"Featuring Scottish Mettle (poem by douglas blair)" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/157756/featuring-scottish-mettle-%28poem-by-douglas-blair%29>.
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