Analysis of SIGHT UNSEEN
Ken Bartlett 1934 (Leominsterr Mass)
SIGHT UNSEEN
He never saw, nor did he hear her step on the hospital floor.
The sweet essence of her nectar floated in and out through the door.
Every day about now, he never knew how she came to view and stare.
Drifted away into the nether, returning the next day to his despair.
Two long months in bed was a test. His patience had become too thin.
He yearned to return home to rest. There were chores that had to begin.
He was released the very next week. She was close by, watching some more
when the pickup stopped with a squeak. Pa unlatched the passenger door.
An orderly helped Jay get in and sit right. They chugged off while she stared.
Once Pa and Jay were out of sight. She turned around and disappeared.
A host of mixed smells from the yard greeted them with wafts of fresh air.
Jay slid onto the gravel hard. Pa helped him to the first porch stair.
Jay said: “I can take it from here” Pa replied, “ I will stay a spell,
have a hot cup to calm my fear that you did not settle or feel well”.
Round the house, Jay did poke and rove. Poured water into the kettle.
Then placed it to heat on the stove. Sat waiting for it to bubble.
Pa went to his cabin next door. Jay wandered around, left and right.
Fatigue finally said: “No more!” He flopped into bed for the night.
Aroused by footsteps, sight unseen, Jay went and opened the door.
Breath sifted through the screen. Jay sighed: “Mam, this game I abhor!”
Her breathing and pulse rate went wild. She grabbed her purse and reached inside.
Aimed straight at his upper body, opened and swung the screen door wide.
He had nowhere to run or hide. She thrust the sock into a limb.
Reeled by emotion she fell inside, legs buckled and her head rammed him.
His arms enfolded flesh and bone. Then guided her feet to a chair.
They sat in the dark all alone. Silence ruled the dubious pair.
At last, she quietly murmured: “I mean you no harm or ill will.
My pain and grief are not nurtured. Dash left a void that no one can fill.
That sock holds the insurance cash paid to me, his surviving wife.
The car exploded and killed Dash. You attempted to save his life.
That blast caused you to lose your sight.” Nothing was said for quite a bit.
At last, he spoke in a voice just right. “Please, keep the money and use it.
Fund a scholarship that honors his life.” Sue thanked his advice and replied:
“Here is a kiss on your cheek from his wife. I will visit again if with me you abide”
She kept her word and did return. Jay regained almost all of his sight.
Their lives together ever churned and merged into one of delight.
Scheme | X A A B B C C A A X X B B D D E E F F A A G G H H B B I I J J K K G G F F |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 101 110111110110101 0110101010001101 100101111011111101 1001010100100111101 1110110111010111 1110111110111101 11010101111111011 10111011101001 11001110011111111 110101111101001 0111110110111111 1110010111110111 1111111110111101 10111111111110111 1011110111001010 1111110111011110 1111101111001101 0110011111011101 01111011101001 11010111111101 0100111111010101 1111101010010111 111111111010101 11010110111000111 11110111001101 1100110110101001 1111001011111111 11011110110111111 1110010111110101 0101001110101111 1111111110111101 11110011111010011 10101101111101001 1101111111111001111101 1101010110111111 1101010101011101 |
Closest metre | Iambic octameter |
Characters | 2,892 |
Words | 565 |
Sentences | 55 |
Stanzas | 37 |
Stanza Lengths | 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 |
Lines Amount | 37 |
Letters per line (avg) | 54 |
Words per line (avg) | 14 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 54 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 14 |
About this poem
When a negative plus a negative can equal a positive.
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"SIGHT UNSEEN" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/173099/sight--unseen>.
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