Analysis of A March Snow

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



Let the old snow be covered with the new:
The trampled snow, so soiled, and stained, and sodden.
Let it be hidden wholly from our view
By pure white flakes, all trackless and untrodden.
When Winter dies, low at the sweet Spring's feet
Let him be mantled in a clean, white sheet.

Let the old life be covered by the new:
The old past life so full of sad mistakes,
Let it be wholly hidden from the view
By deeds as white and silent as snow-flakes.

Ere this earth life melts in the eternal Spring
Let the white mantle of repentance fling
Soft drapery about it, fold on fold,
Even as the new snow covers up the old.


Scheme AXAABB ACAC DDEE
Poetic Form
Metre 1011110101 01011101010 11110101101 11111101 1101110111 111100111 1011110101 0111111101 1111010101 1111010111 11111000101 1011010101 1100011111 10101110101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 618
Words 120
Sentences 6
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 6, 4, 4
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 158
Words per stanza (avg) 39
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 15, 2023

36 sec read
65

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. more…

All Ella Wheeler Wilcox poems | Ella Wheeler Wilcox Books

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