After Death Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AA BB CC DD CC CC CC BB EE BB CC CC CC CC FF GH CC II JK CC LL MM NN FF MM| THE FOUR boards of the coffin lid | A |
| Heard all the dead man did | A |
| - | |
| The first curse was in his mouth | B |
| Made of grave s mould and deadly drouth | B |
| - | |
| The next curse was in his head | C |
| Made of God s work discomfited | C |
| - | |
| The next curse was in his hands | D |
| Made out of two grave bands | D |
| - | |
| The next curse was in his feet | C |
| Made out of a grave sheet | C |
| - | |
| I had fair coins red and white | C |
| And my name was as great light | C |
| - | |
| I had fair clothes green and red | C |
| And strong gold bound round my head | C |
| - | |
| But no meat comes in my mouth | B |
| Now I fare as the worm doth | B |
| - | |
| And no gold binds in my hair | E |
| Now I fare as the blind fare | E |
| - | |
| My live thews were of great strength | B |
| Now am I waxen a span s length | B |
| - | |
| My live sides were full of lust | C |
| Now are they dried with dust | C |
| - | |
| The first board spake and said | C |
| Is it best eating flesh or bread | C |
| - | |
| The second answered it | C |
| Is wine or honey the more sweet | C |
| - | |
| The third board spake and said | C |
| Is red gold worth a girl s gold head | C |
| - | |
| The fourth made answer thus | F |
| All these things are as one with us | F |
| - | |
| The dead man asked of them | G |
| Is the green land stained brown with flame | H |
| - | |
| Have they hewn my son for beasts to eat | C |
| And my wife s body for beasts meat | C |
| - | |
| Have they boiled my maid in a brass pan | I |
| And built a gallows to hang my man | I |
| - | |
| The boards said to him | J |
| This is a lewd thing that ye deem | K |
| - | |
| Your wife has gotten a golden bed | C |
| All the sheets are sewn with red | C |
| - | |
| Your son has gotten a coat of silk | L |
| The sleeves are soft as curded milk | L |
| - | |
| Your maid has gotten a kirtle new | M |
| All the skirt has braids of blue | M |
| - | |
| Your man has gotten both ring and glove | N |
| Wrought well for eyes to love | N |
| - | |
| The dead man answered thus | F |
| What good gift shall God give us | F |
| - | |
| The boards answered him anon | M |
| Flesh to feed hell s worm upon | M |
Algernon Charles Swinburne
(1)
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