Analysis of Silence

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



So silent is the world to-night
The lamp gives silence out like light,
The latticed windows open wide
Show silence, like the night, outside:
The nightingale's faint song draws near
Like musical silence to mine ear.

The empty house calls not to me,
'Here, but for fate, were thou and she--'
Its gibe for once is checked. To-night
Silence is queen in grief's despite,
And even the longing of my soul
Is silent 'neath this hour's control.


Scheme AABBXX CCAADD
Poetic Form
Metre 11010111 01110111 0110101 11010111 011111 110010111 01011111 11110101 11111111 10110101 010010111 110111001
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 432
Words 79
Sentences 4
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 6, 6
Lines Amount 12
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 169
Words per stanza (avg) 39
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 26, 2023

24 sec read
73

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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