This is an analysis of the poem On Wishes that begins with:

Don't say to me:
Would I were a seller of bread in Algiers...

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: AbcAdXAedAXXXebXddc
  • Stanza lengths (in strings): 19,
  • Closest metre: trochaic tetrameter
  • Сlosest rhyme: no rhyme
  • Сlosest stanza type: sonnet
  • Guessed form: unknown form
  • Metre: 1101 11001001001 11110010 1101 1100100010 11110110001 1101 110001100010 11110100010010 1101 111101100010 1111001 11 0101100010 10101010000010 1101010101 11110110 111011101 11010010
  • Amount of stanzas: 1
  • Average number of symbols per stanza: 681
  • Average number of words per stanza: 132
  • Amount of lines: 19
  • Average number of symbols per line: 35 (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; i, its are repeated.

    The poet used anaphora at the beginnings of some neighboring lines. The same word each is repeated.

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

  • summary of On Wishes;
  • central theme;
  • idea of the verse;
  • history of its creation;
  • critical appreciation.

Good luck in your poetry interpretation practice!

More information about poems by Mahmoud Darwish