Ars Longa - A Song Of Pilgrimage Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AAAABABA CDCDCACA EFEGCACA CDCDCACA HGIGJAJA GKGKAAAA CACAAAAA GCGCCACA CKCKCACA

Our hopes are wild imaginingsA
Our schemes are airy castlesA
Yet these on earth are lords and kingsA
And we their slaves and vassalsA
Your dream forsooth of buoyant youthB
Most ready to deceive isA
But age will own the bitter truthB
Ars longa vita brevisA
-
The hill of life with eager feetC
We climbed in merry morningD
But on the downward track we meetC
The shades of twilight warningD
The shadows gaunt they fall aslantC
And those who scaled Ben NevisA
Against the mole hills toil and pantC
Ars longa vita brevisA
-
The obstacles that barr'd our pathE
We seldom quail'd to dash onF
In youth for youth one motto hathE
The will the way must fashionG
Those words I wot blood thick and hotC
Too ready to believe isA
But thin and cold our blood hath gotC
Ars longa vita brevisA
-
And art is long and life is shortC
And man is slow at learningD
And yet by divers dealings taughtC
For divers follies yearningD
He owns at last with grief downcastC
For man disposed to grieve isA
One adage old stands true and fastC
Ars longa vita brevisA
-
We journey manhood youth and ageH
The matron and the maidenG
Like pilgrims on a pilgrimageI
Loins girded heavy ladenG
Each pilgrim strong who joins our throngJ
Most eager to achieve isA
Foredoom'd ere long to swell the songJ
Ars longa vita brevisA
-
At morn with staff and sandal shoonG
We travel brisk and cheeryK
But some have laid them down ere noonG
And all at eve are wearyK
The noontide glows with no reposeA
And bitter chill the eve isA
The grasshopper a burden growsA
Ars longa vita brevisA
-
The staff is snapp'd the sandal fray'dC
The flint stone galls and blistersA
Our brother's steps we cannot aidC
Ah me nor aid our sister'sA
The pit prepares its hidden snaresA
The rock prepared to cleave isA
We cry in falling unawaresA
Ars longa vita brevisA
-
Oh Wisdom which we sought to winG
Oh Strength in which we trustedC
Oh Glory which we gloried inG
Oh puppets we adjustedC
On barren land our seed is sandC
And torn the web we weave isA
The bruised reed hath pierced the handC
Ars longa vita brevisA
-
We too Job's comforters have metC
With steps like ours unsteadyK
They could not help themselves and yetC
To judge us they were readyK
Life's path is trod at last and GodC
More ready to reprieve isA
They know who rest beneath the sodC
Mors gratum vita brevisA

Adam Lindsay Gordon



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