Analysis of The Swan Song
If I recall it was the first day of November;
although, likely not as cold I remember.
We walked hand in hand through the fallen autumn forest
where the wind awoke the leaves, called on to adore us.
We stopped to carve our budding love into the wood
as I took stock of what I thought I understood.
That moment lingered longer than any moment should
when her eyes said more than her lips ever could.
It was a rehearsed and silent incantation
that stirred then soaked through my elation
and it was only your eyes my ears had heard--
a song you sung so sweetly, my little bird.
Our fire burned through late December
until that night likely just as cold as I remember.
I was lost in passionate pace
when her sore lips tore from my taste.
Her weighted breath drew forth and crept when I asked of another;
then came the slanted eyes and late reply my ears had trapped and smothered.
It was then and only then I truly understood:
her eyes said more than her lips ever could.
And again it was only your eyes my ears had heard--
a siren song you sung so sweetly, my little bird.
So farewell to my love, nearly departed,
may you find better times to leave your windows unguarded.
And as I address your final breath
with my swelling hands tied to your neck,
it is only your eyes I find to be heard
as you sing your song so sweet, my little bird.
And now you know as you go still:
your eyes say more than your lips ever will.
Scheme | A A X X B B B B C C D D A A X X A D B B D D X X X X D D E E |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111110111010 1101111010 1110110101010 1010101111011 1111101010101 11111111101 1101010110101 10111101101 110010100110 111111010 01110111111 01111101101 1010111010 01111011111010 11101001 10111111 010111011111010 11010101011111010 111010111001 0111101101 0011110111111 0101111101101 1111110010 11110111110010 01111101 111011111 11101111111 11111111101 01111111 1111111101 |
Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
Characters | 1,384 |
Words | 273 |
Sentences | 14 |
Stanzas | 30 |
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 |
Lines Amount | 30 |
Letters per line (avg) | 37 |
Words per line (avg) | 9 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 37 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 9 |
Font size:
Submitted on June 26, 2012
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:21 min read
- 8 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"The Swan Song" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 12 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/88047/the-swan-song>.
Discuss this Thomas Cropper poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In