This is an analysis of the poem Seldom Absent that begins with:

My eyes have never been set on a race to chase.
Or have I awakened, ...

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: abaA aaXA XXab aXXa XXXX
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 4,4,4,4,4,
  • Closest metre: iambic pentameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: tercets
  • Guessed form: blank verse
  • Metre: 111100110101 111010 010111011 01000111001010 11111001001 110101111111 01111010001 01000111001010 111011111111 101100100 010010001010100 11101011111010 01000110111110101 10101101001001 0110010100101100110 10010010010110100 10101010001010011101 101111010101 11001010001010101000 1010000100011010111
  • Amount of stanzas: 5
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 211
  • Average number of words per stanza: 38
  • Amount of lines: 20
  • Average number of symbols per line: 52 (very long strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 9
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; have, my, to, i are repeated.

    The poet repeated the same word patience at the end of some neighboring stanzas. The poetic device is a kind of epiphora.

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

  • summary of Seldom Absent;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Lawrence S. Pertillar