I am really having a problem with the scansion of William Wordsworth's poem, "My heart leaps up when I behold". I know what scansion is, and I know how I am suppose to figure it out. I can't though. I am not sure if it is one of those that changes, or if it stays the same throughout the poem. I am so confused, but I do know how to do it. I simply can't figure out where the stresses are at! Here's the poem...

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man:
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The child is father of the man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

Also, what point of view is this poem told from?? Thanks so much.

kgwils1342@ngcsu.edu

He is nothing if not inconsistent, for sure. Number of feet per line shown below.


My heart leaps up when I behold 4
A rainbow in the sky: 3
So was it when my life began; 4
So is it now I am a man: 4
So be it when I shall grow old, 4
Or let me die! 2
The child is father of the man; 4
And I could wish my days to be 4
Bound each to each by natural piety. 5


Rhymes what? abccabcdd? Point of view - first person? Male? Adult aged, say, 35?

So...if I were trying to put a category to it ....ie. iambic pentameter, anapest tetrameter, etc... what would it be?? I have to write a paper on how this illustates the theme. My paper will mainly be graded on whether the scansion is correct. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Irregular iambic.