Severn and Somme
Ivor Gurney's first book, written in the trenches in 1917.
Measured across the book
Across its 787 lines, 92% of stressed syllables fall on the beat (95% interval 91% to 93%). Alliteration runs at 1.02 times what shuffling the words would give (0.29 observed against 0.28 expected). 31% of the lines have a feminine ending.
Baselines and intervals are described in the methods.
Contents
To Certain Comrades (E. S. and J. H.)AABB · 26 linesThe Fire Kindlediambic trimeter · 24 linesTo the Poet Before Battleiambic pentameter · 14 linesMaisemorecommon measure · 28 linesAfterwardsiambic pentameter · 14 linesCaroltrochaic tetrameter · 27 linesStrange Serviceiambic heptameter · 20 linesSerenityiambic pentameter · ABAABAB · 7 linesThe Signaller’s Visioniambic trimeter · 16 linesThe Mother5 linesTo England—A Noteiambic pentameter · 14 linesBach and the Sentryiambic pentameter · ABAB · 8 linesLettersiambic pentameter · ABCACBAB · 8 linesStrafeiambic hexameter · ABAAABAB · 8 linesAcquiescenceiambic pentameter · AABB · 14 linesThe Strong Thingiambic hexameter · ABAB · 8 linesScotsalexandrines · AABB · 12 linesTo an Unknown Ladyiambic hexameter · 14 linesSong and Painiambic pentameter · 8 linesPurple and Blackiambic trimeter · 20 linesWest Countryiambic trimeter · 20 linesFirelightalexandrines · AABB · 12 linesThe Estaminetcommon measure · ABAB · 42 linesSongiambic trimeter · 8 linesBallad of the Three Spectresiambic tetrameter · 20 linesCommunioniambic trimeter · unrhymed · 20 linesTime and the Soldieriambic trimeter · 16 linesInfluencesiambic trimeter · 20 linesAfter-Glowiambic pentameter · 14 linesHail and Farewelliambic trimeter · ABAB · 20 linesPraiseAABB · 4 linesWinter Beautyiambic pentameter · 24 linesSong of Pain and Beautyiambic pentameter · 112 linesJune—To—Comeiambic trimeter · 24 lines“Hark, Hark, the Lark”ABAB · 8 linesSong at Morningiambic pentameter · 27 linesTreesiambic trimeter · 19 linesRequiemiambic hexameter · 12 lines1. For Englandiambic pentameter · 14 lines2. Pain14 lines3. Servitudeiambic pentameter · 14 lines4. Home-Sicknessiambic pentameter · 14 lines5. England the Motheriambic pentameter · 14 lines
About this text
Public domain. Text from Severn & Somme, Project Gutenberg ebook #63895. Free to read, print, copy and reuse.