This is an analysis of the poem A Prayer that begins with:

As I lie in bed,
Flat on my back; ...

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: aXXbXbcaXac
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 11,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 11101 1111 11001110 110100001 1101110 101000100100 111111101 10001010101 11101001011 00001 111110111101
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 372
  • Average number of words per stanza: 65
  • Amount of lines: 11
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (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 A Prayer;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Joseph Seamon Cotter