Analysis of The Wounded
John Le Gay Brereton 1871 (Sydney) – 1933
Stupidity and Selfishness and Fear,
Who hold enslaved the intellect of Man,
Have found their victims here.
We saw them go, alert to seek the van
Where phantom Glory showered her withering leaves;
Now they return who can.
Slowly, full-fraught with pain, the vessel heaves
From labouring seas, and creeps along the bay
To where the city grieves.
Happy are those who limp the dusty way;
And those whose eyes can meet the loving glance,
Happy indeed are they.
But mock them not with babble of romance:
They have glared at death across the orient rocks
Or in the mire of France.
O welcome to your land of herds and flocks
And fields that pray toward a fairy sky
That promises and mocks.
Welcome! our eyes are strained and sorrow-dry,
Watching for peace and you, and every heart
Would fain, but cannot, cry.
For you who, led by love, have borne your part
Where war's black ploughshare turns the bloody sand
And crops of hatred start
For you and by your help, heroic band,
We swear by love and labour to make this
A lovelier, worthier land.
Nor shall we let the home-bred serpent hiss
Unscotched upon our hearth, if ever here
Our hope and fortune kiss.
The workers of the battered world draw near,
Scorning a foeman's name. The heart of Man
In every land is dear.
Scheme | ABC BDB DED EFE FGF GHG HIH IJI JKJ KCK ABA |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 0100010001 110101011 111101 1111011101 110101001001 110111 1011110101 111010101 110101 1011110101 0111110101 100111 1111110101 11111010101 100111 1101111101 0111010101 110001 10101110101 10110101001 111101 1111111111 1111010101 011101 1101110101 111101111 011001 1111011101 1011011101 1010101 0101010111 10110111 0100111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,232 |
Words | 230 |
Sentences | 13 |
Stanzas | 11 |
Stanza Lengths | 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 |
Lines Amount | 33 |
Letters per line (avg) | 30 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 90 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 21 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:09 min read
- 119 Views
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