George Eliot Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AB CDEFGHIJKLMNOJJ PQNNGNJRSTUVWXYZA2NB 2C2D2E2F2NG2H2C2I2J2 K2NL2M2NN2O2P2NNSN NQ2A2NC2F2R2C2NS2OT2 NUNU2XV2Dead Is she dead | A |
And all that light extinguished | B |
- | |
Mend your words | C |
Those gropings of the blind along plain paths | D |
Where all the Heavens are shining Know you not | E |
Though the Eternal Luminary dips | F |
Below our cramped horizon leaving here | G |
Only a train of glory he but goes | H |
To dawn on other and neglected worlds | I |
Benighted of his presence So with her | J |
Whose round imagination like the sun | K |
Drew the sad mists of the low lying earth | L |
Up to her own great altitude and there | M |
Made them in smiling tears evaporate | N |
Announce the sun's self dead and o'er him roll | O |
An epitaph of darkness then aver | J |
She too has set for ever | J |
- | |
Think it thus | P |
If for sweet comfort's sake What we call death | Q |
Is but another sentinel despatched | N |
To relieve life weary of being on guard | N |
Whose active service is not ended here | G |
But after intermission is renewed | N |
In other fields of duty This to her | J |
Was an uncertain promise since it seems | R |
Unto the eye of seriousness unreal | S |
That like a child death should but play with life | T |
Blowing it out to blow it in again | U |
This contradiction over now she stands | V |
Certain of all uncertainty and dwells | W |
Where death the sophist puzzles life no more | X |
But with disdainful silence or clear proof | Y |
Confuted is for ever Yet our loss | Z |
By others' gain is mended not and we | A2 |
Sit in the darkness that her light hath left | N |
Comfort our grief with symbols as we will | B2 |
Her empty throne stares stony in our face | C2 |
And with a dumb relentlessness proclaims | D2 |
That she has gone for ever for ever gone | E2 |
Returning not How plain I see her now | F2 |
The twilight tresses deepening into night | N |
The brow a benediction and the eyes | G2 |
Seat where compassion never set and like | H2 |
That firm fixed star which altereth not its place | C2 |
While all the planets round it sink and swim | I2 |
Shone with a steady guidance O and a voice | J2 |
Matched with whose modulations softest notes | K2 |
Of dulcimer by daintiest fingers stroked | N |
Or zephyrs wafted over summer seas | L2 |
On summer shores subsiding sounded harsh | M2 |
Listening whereto steeled obduracy felt | N |
The need to kneel necessity to weep | N2 |
And craving to be comforted a shrine | O2 |
Of music and of incense and of flowers | P2 |
Where hearts at length self challenged were content | N |
Still to be sad and sinful so they might | N |
Feel that exonerating pity steal | S |
In subtle absolution on their guilt | N |
- | |
Dead Never dead | N |
That this man's insignificant domain | Q2 |
Which is not boundary of space should be | A2 |
The boundary of life revolts the mind | N |
Even when bounded Into soaring space | C2 |
Soar spacious spirit unembarrassed now | F2 |
By earthly boundaries and circle up | R2 |
Into the Heaven of Heavens and take thy place | C2 |
Where the Eternal Morning broadens out | N |
To recognise thy coming Realm on Realm | S2 |
Of changeless revolution round thee roll | O |
Thou moving with them and among the stars | T2 |
Shine thou a star long looked for or unbuoyed | N |
Beyond the constellations of our ken | U |
Traverse the infinite azure with thy heart | N |
And with love's light elucidate the Spheres | U2 |
While we below this meek libation pour | X |
Mingled of honey and hyssop on thy grave | V2 |
Alfred Austin
(1)
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