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Away, away I would go if I could,

Perhaps to an overgrown sun-dapple wood;
Away, away I would fly in a flash,
If I thought peace awaited under a towering ash.

Away, away you would wish me go too,
If only the pain of my staying still was known to you;
Away, away you would bid me farewell,
And on my wellbeing, you’d never again dwell.
By Paul Lawrance Dunbar
In simple easy tearms, What conclusion can you draw from the structure "Away" /What is the structure of the poem?

3 answers

The poem "Away" by Paul Laurence Dunbar has a simple yet effective structure. It consists of four stanzas, each with a consistent rhyme scheme that enhances its lyrical quality. The repetition of the phrase "Away, away" at the beginning of the stanzas emphasizes the speaker's longing for escape and reinforces the poem's theme of desire for freedom and relief from pain.

In simple terms, the structure can be summarized as follows:

  1. Stanzas and Lines: The poem has four stanzas, each containing four lines (quatrains).
  2. Rhyme Scheme: Each stanza maintains a rhyme scheme, creating a musical quality to the reading.
  3. Repetition: The repeated phrase "Away, away" serves as a refrain, highlighting the speaker's yearning to leave and conveying the emotional weight of the desire for escape.
  4. Themes: The structure supports themes of longing, pain, and the hope for peace, as the speaker expresses a desire to leave behind their troubles and find solace in nature.

Overall, the poem's structure effectively conveys the speaker's feelings and enhances the emotional impact of their longing for freedom.

Are they AABB CCDD ?
Thanks

Yes, you are correct! The rhyme scheme of the poem "Away" by Paul Laurence Dunbar follows an AABB CCDD pattern.

Each pair of lines in a stanza rhymes with each other. Here's how it breaks down:

  1. First Stanza:

    • A: go (1st line)
    • A: wood (2nd line)
    • B: flash (3rd line)
    • B: ash (4th line)

  2. Second Stanza:

    • C: you (5th line)
    • C: you (6th line)
    • D: known (7th line)
    • D: dwell (8th line)

This AABB CCDD rhyme scheme continues throughout the poem, enhancing its lyrical quality and reinforcing its themes. Thank you for your question!