Hymn To Death Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBCBCCDEDECFFECE AGCGGCBCBCBHHHCFFCCC CIJKI ALLCCLFCFCLCCLMCCMNN CCGGMMMMCC IFOFOLLLLOOFFIIFPPOI OIQQ IICICCCOOOCCRRRFFCCF FOFOFSTSMMFTFT IFCFCLLFFOOOMMMMUU IVCVCCLCCLOOLLIILLL ICCCCCCCWOWO

IA
What is it haunts the summer airB
A sense of something lately passed awayC
Something pleasant something fairB
That was with us yesterdayC
And is no longer thereB
Now from the pasture comes no baby bleatC
Nor the frisk of frolic feetC
There is seenD
Blossom and bloom have spread their wings and flownE
And the bosks and orchards greenD
The rosy flush of childhood have outgrownE
Lapwing and linnet and lark have fledged their broodC
Mavis and merle have gotten their desireF
The nightingale begins to tireF
Even the cuckoo's note hath fitful grownE
And in the closing leafage of the woodC
The ringdove now is left to coo aloneE
-
IIA
Then revel in your roses reckless JuneG
Revel and ripen swift to your decayC
But your turn will follow soonG
And the rounding harvest moonG
Avenge the too brief innocence of MayC
Yet once again there scents the morning airB
The soul of something passed awayC
Something precious something fairB
That was breathing yesterdayC
And is no longer thereB
It is Autumn dying dyingH
With her leaves around her lyingH
And Winter beggared heir unprofitably sighingH
Let her dieC
Unto us as unto herF
Earth is but a sepulchreF
And the over arching skyC
Neither asks nor wonders whyC
Those who here are left behindC
Season sweet and spacious mindC
Fain would saveI
Yet with pale visages and streaming tearsJ
Must watch the harvest of the ripened yearsK
Locked in the bootless granary of the graveI
-
IIIA
Why do you call me henceL
To purge what fault to punish what offenceL
Had I maligned my lotC
Or ever once the privilege forgotC
Of being though the spirit's inward senseL
Mirror and measure of all things that areF
Then it were right were justC
That like a falling leaf or failing starF
The winds of Heaven should blow about my dustC
Or had I used the years as waifs and straysL
To build myself a comfortable nestC
Groped life for golden garbage like the restC
And as a lacquey on the public waysL
For private profit hired out my tongueM
Then against death 'twere vain to pleadC
Then then 'twere meet indeedC
I should grow silenced like a bell unrungM
But bear me witness every Spring that cameN
Since first with trembling furtive frameN
Out of my little crib I creptC
While others sleptC
Because to me the rising moonG
Was more than sleep or toy or boonG
That never yet the thrush resumed to singM
But straight my heart did build my voice was on the wingM
Found the first primrose gazing frankM
From its cradle in the bankM
Harked for the cuckoo days before he calledC
Then halted at his note enthralledC
-
IVI
Why do you beckon to another sphereF
Here was I bornO
Am deeply rooted hereF
And would not be uptornO
I want no other fields than theseL
No other skiesL
No redder dawn to break on bluer seasL
No brighter stars to riseL
Neither do I crave to knowO
The origin of joy and woeO
I love the doubt the dark the fearF
That still surroundeth all things hereF
I love the mystery nor seek to solveI
Content to let the stars revolveI
Nor ask to have their meaning clearF
Enough for me enough to feelP
To let the mystic shadows stealP
Into a land whither I cannot followO
To see the stealthy sunlight leaveI
Dewy dingle dappled hollowO
To watch when falls the hour of eveI
Quiet shadows on a quiet hillQ
To watch to wonder and be stillQ
-
VI
And can it beI
That there will break the dayC
For me for meI
When I no more shall hear the throstle fluteC
Not because his voice is muteC
But that my soul sleeps stupefied in clayC
Never what never againO
Deep within some silent glenO
To make a couch with peace far from surmise of menO
Never never more to standC
Spell bound in a leafy landC
Lie among the grasses tallR
Hear the yaffel call and callR
And lazily watch the lazy clouds slow floating over allR
That time and life will be but I shall ne'erF
Find little feet upon the stairF
Feel little arms about my throatC
Hear little gleeful voices floatC
Upon the wavelets of the summer airF
That I again shall never shareF
The peace that lies upon an English lawnO
Watch the last lingering planet shining fairF
Upon the unwrinkled forehead of the dawnO
Never never never moreF
When fate or fancy bids me roamS
Lessen with loving thoughts the last long mileT
That leads unto my homeS
Descry the roses down the casement fallingM
Hear the garden thrushes callingM
Behold my dear ones standing at the doorF
Void of fear void of guileT
And hail as I so oft have hailed beforeF
The broadening salutation of their smileT
-
VII
Who will salute me ThereF
Who who come forth to greetC
Will Virgil stand upon the golden stairF
Shall I see Spenser's face and sit at Shakespeare's feetC
Will Galileo with unshrouded gazeL
Guide me through the starry mazeL
Upon wings that never tireF
Up to the Heaven of Heavens and higher and ever higherF
If this be soO
Quick let me goO
But ah pale spectre paler still you growO
You would but lure me to the other bankM
To find it blankM
Of all we loved not one hath e'er come backM
To beckon us along the trackM
To point the way to indicate the goalU
And stretch out steadying arms to help the tottering soulU
-
VIII
But wilt thou make this compact with me DeathV
And keep thy bondC
That even if mine be but borrowed breathV
Lent here awhile to be reclaimed beyondC
And its poor husk be dug into the groundC
Then though the Future may not find my faceL
Nor arms that love me round my neck be woundC
Fair lips that lisp not yet my name shall soundC
And hearts that beat not yet be my warm dwellingplaceL
That under trees which have no rootlets nowO
But will then be trunk and boughO
And dome of sheltering leaves sometimesL
A tender tear shall fall upon my rhymesL
And hearts at secret war with lifeI
Or dreaming maid or disillusioned wifeI
Shall my persuasive music blessL
Shall call me comforter in their distressL
And make me live again in sorrowing lovelinessL
-
VIIII
So unto Death I do commend my SpiritC
And Time which is in league with Death that theyC
May hold in trust and see my kin inheritC
All of me that is not clayC
Embalm my voice and keep it from decayC
Then I will not ask to stayC
Nay rather start at once upon the wayC
Cheered by the faith that at our mortal birthW
For some high reason beyond Reason's kenO
We are put out to nurse on this strange earthW
Until Death comes to take us home againO

Alfred Austin



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