Analysis of Ebb-Tide

Edith Nesbit 1858 (Kennington, Surrey ) – 1924 (New Romney, Kent)



NOW the vexed clouds, wind-driven, spread wings of white,
Long leaning wings across the sea and land.
The waves creep back bequeathing to our sight
The treasure-house of their deserted sand,
And where the nearer waves curl white and low,
Knee-deep in swirling brine the slow-foot shrimpers go.

Pale breadth of sand, where clamorous gulls confer,
Marked with broad arrows by their planted feet;
White rippled pools, where late deep waters were
And ever the white waves marshalled in retreat
And the grey wind in sole supremacy
O'er opal and amber cold of darkening sky and sea.


Scheme ABABCC DEDEFF
Poetic Form
Metre 10111101111 1101010101 011111101 0101110101 0101011101 110101011101 111111101 1111011101 1101111100 01001110001 0011010100 101001011100101
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 584
Words 99
Sentences 4
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 6, 6
Lines Amount 12
Letters per line (avg) 39
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 232
Words per stanza (avg) 49
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 11, 2023

30 sec read
131

Edith Nesbit

Edith Nesbit (married name Edith Bland) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on more than 60 books of children's literature. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later affiliated to the Labour Party. more…

All Edith Nesbit poems | Edith Nesbit Books

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