At Delphi Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AB ACDEFGGHIIIJJB ABBKKLGMMNNGGOOPPBBB BBBB QQGGRRBBPPBBGG SSRRBBRRB BTTPPGGRRGGGBBUUBBPP BBSSS BGVVWWBBGGXXSSSSBBSS PPB RRGGGGPPHHLLBBGGGGPP GGYYGGBBZZPPWWBB BBPPLLZZGGA2A2QQSS GB2B2QQPPHHHB GPPBBGGKKRRPPMMSSPPR RR

IA
Apollo Apollo ApolloB
-
IIA
Where hast thou Apollo goneC
I have wandered on and onD
Through the shaggy Dorian gorgesE
Down from where Parnassus forgesF
Thunder for the Phocian valleysG
Where the Pleistus springs and salliesG
Past ravines and caverns dreadH
Have like it meander dI
But I cannot see thee hear theeI
Find thee feel thee get anear theeI
Though in quest of thee I go whereJ
Thou didst haunt I find thee nowhereJ
Apollo Apollo ApolloB
-
IIIA
Still no answer comes ApolloB
Vainly do I call and holloaB
Into each Crissoean cleftK
Where the last year's leaves are leftK
Deem not I have pushed my wayL
But from stony AmphissG
I have come from far off landM
Traversed foam traversed sandM
From green pastures sea surroundedN
Where thy phorminx never soundedN
O'er the broad and barren acresG
Of the vainly furrowed breakersG
Across mountains loftier farO
Than the peaks of Pindus areO
Skirted groves of pine and firP
Denser than lone Tempe's wereP
With no selfish tread but onlyB
I might find thee lovely lonelyB
Lingering by thy sacred cityB
On me wilt thou not have pityB
Sun god Song god I implore theeB
Glow and let me pale before theeB
Apollo Apollo ApolloB
-
IV-
Fallen tablet prostrate columnQ
Solitude and silence solemnQ
Half tilled patches squalid hovelsG
Where life multiplies and grovelsG
Is this Delphi this the shrineR
Of the Musagete divineR
This the cavern this the cellB
Of the Pythian oracleB
Where the tripod where the altarP
Incense embassy and psalterP
Can this pool of cresses beB
Cradle of pure CastalyB
From the rock though still it bubblesG
Travels onwards halts and doublesG
Where the Muses wont to lave-
Limbs as vestal as its wave-
'Mong the flashing waters flashingS
Gaunt and withered crones are washingS
Not a note of lyre or zitternR
But below the booming bitternR
Waits his quarry to inveigleB
While o'erhead the silent eagleB
Blinking stares at the blank sunR
All of thee that is not goneR
Apollo ApolloB
-
VB
Who art thou intruder weirdT
With the fine and flowing beardT
Whom no snowy robes encumberP
But a habit black and sombreP
Yet in whose compos d eyesG
Lurks the light of mysteriesG
Priest thou seemest but not oneR
Of the loved Latona's sonR
In thy aspect is no gladnessG
Glance nor gleam of joyous madnessG
Only gloom only sadnessG
Underneath thy knotted girdleB
Thoughts congeal and passions curdleB
And about thy brow asceticU
Lives nor light nor line propheticU
Priest but priest not of ApolloB
Whither wouldst thou have me followB
Lead but onward I will enterP
Where thy cold gaze seems to centreP
Underneath yon portal dismalB
Into dusk and chill abysmalB
Hast thou pent him Is He lyingS
There within dethroned and dyingS
If thou breathest hear me cryingS
Apollo Apollo Apollo ''-
-
VI-
No but here He cannot beB
God of light and poesyG
What are these I see aroundV
Gloomy upon gloomy groundV
Making wall and roof to seemW
Sepulchre of morbid dreamW
Visages with aspect stonyB
Bodies lean and lank and bonyB
In whose lineaments I traceG
Neither love nor joy nor graceG
Youth with limbs disused and oldX
Maidens pale contorted coldX
Flames devouring pincers wrenchingS
Muscles naked but unblenchingS
Writhing snakes forked venom dartingS
Into flesh wounds gaping smartingS
Furies shagged with tresses fellB
Ghouls and ghosts of nether hellB
Priest of beauty Priest of songS
Aid me if thou still art strongS
See me save me bear me whitherP
Glows thy light that brought me hitherP
Apollo Apollo ApolloB
-
VII-
O the sunshine once againR
O to stand a man 'mong menR
Lo the horrid nightmare palesG
In the light of flowing valesG
In the gaze of steadfast mountainsG
Sidelong runnels forward fountainsG
Spacious sky receding airP
Breadth and bounty everywhereP
What if all the gods be deadH
Nature reigneth in their steadH
Let me dream the noon awayL
Underneath this full blown bayL
Where the yellow bees are busyB
Till they stagger drowsy dizzyB
From the honeyed wine that wellsG
Up the branches to the cellsG
Of the myriad clustered flowersG
Dropping golden flakes in showersG
Here reclined I will surrenderP
Sense and soul unto the tenderP
Mingling of remote and closeG
Gods voluptuous gods moroseG
Altars at whose marble meetY
Downcast eyes and dancing feetY
Awful dirges glad carouseG
Unveiled bosoms shaded browsG
Wreath d steer and tonsured skullB
Shapes austere with beautifulB
Till the past and present swimZ
In an ether distant dimZ
And the Delphic fumes rise denserP
From a silver swinging censerP
And in one harmonious dreamW
Through a heavenly nimbus gleamW
Lovely limbs and longings saintlyB
And pale virgins murmur faintlyB
Apollo Apollo Apollo ''-
-
VIII-
Priest but priest not of ApolloB
Why dost thou my footsteps followB
From the deep dark shrine down thereP
To this temple of the airP
What profaner wouldst thou layL
Hands upon the sacred bayL
Tearing Daphne limb from limbZ
Hast thou then no dread of HimZ
How For me Avaunt and passG
I am not fool MarsyasG
Stay Then to my forehead bind itA2
Round my temples wreathe and wind itA2
'Chance the Avenger then will comeQ
Haunt and grot no more be dumbQ
But the rills and steeps be ringingS
And a long array come singingS
Apollo Apollo Apollo ''-
-
IXG
All in vain Nor prayer nor tauntB2
Tempts him back to his loved hauntB2
Fretted tablet fallen columnQ
Solitude and silence solemnQ
He again from Peneus ne'erP
Will to Castaly repairP
Never more in cavern dreadH
Will his oracles be readH
Now I know that Thou art deadH
ApolloB
-
XG
Then like fountain in mine earP
Spake the god aloud and clearP
Take it Wear it Tis for theeB
Singer from the Northern SeaB
If the least not last of thoseG
Suckled 'mong the genial snowsG
Though the Muses may have leftK
Tempe's glen and Delphi's cleftK
Wanderer they have only goneR
Hence to murmuring AlbionR
Need was none to travel hitherP
Child of England go back thitherP
Traverse foam traverse sandM
Back and in thy native landM
Thou wilt find what thou dost seekS
There the oracles still speakS
There the mounting fumes inspireP
Glowing brain and living lyreP
There the Muses prompt the strainR
There they renovate my reignR
There thou wilt not call in vainR
Apollo Apollo Apollo '''-

Alfred Austin



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