This is an analysis of the poem To San Francisco that begins with:

Fair on your hills, my City,
Fair as the Queen of old, ... full text

Elements of the verse: questions and answers

The information we provided is prepared by means of a special computer program. Use the criteria sheet to understand greatest poems or improve your poetry analysis essay.

  • Rhyme scheme: abXbXcac
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 8,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: alternate rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1111110 110101 0100101010 101101 10010110 100111 100110010 1001101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 260
  • Average number of words per stanza: 44
  • Amount of lines: 8
  • Average number of symbols per line: 32 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 6
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

If you write a school or university poetry essay, you should Include in your explanation of the poem:

  • summary of To San Francisco;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Ina D. Coolbrith