Form and structure

Seven stanzas, the first six of which are three lines each - though the final stanza has two. This emphasises the final stanza and also suggests that the couple are now, like the lines, a reconciled pair.

The lines are irregular and unrhymed. The disjointed rhythm of the poem might reflect the conflict between the speakers at the start. Stanza three begins with the word ‘until’ which shows a shift in the relationship with the arrival of the swans.

The poet uses enjambment, with many of the sentences moving across line breaks and stanzas. This could suggest the…