This is an analysis of the poem The Lost Baby Poem that begins with:

the time i dropped your almost body down
down to meet the waters under the city...

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: aXXbXc XXXbddXdXadcddb
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 6,15,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 0111111101 10101010010 1110010001 10110110101 10110110 1101 11101010 0010010101 111 1111011 10010010001001 0111000101 01011111 111101 10111011010 1110010110 101011011 10111101001 111111011 111011
  • Amount of stanzas: 3
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 227
  • Average number of words per stanza: 46
  • Amount of lines: 20
  • Average number of symbols per line: 33 (medium-length strings)
  • Average number of words per line: 7
  • Mood of the speaker:

    The punctuation marks are various. Neither mark predominates.

  • The author used lexical repetitions to emphasize a significant image; and, let are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same words what, let are repeated.

    The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. The word/phrase down connects the lines.

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

  • summary of The Lost Baby Poem;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Lucille Clifton