John Jones's Wife Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B ACCC ADDE AFFF GGG HHH III JJJ A AKLKMLMK ACNCONOC AP PQ QP BRBPRPB STSUTUS A P A V V AWNWNW AXPXPX Y Y Y ZPZPZ PA2PA2 B2C2B2C2B2 P P P P D2 D2 PPE2PE2P PNF2NF2N PPPPPP PG2H2G2H2G2 NININ POPOP PTPT E2I2E2I2E2 T T PPPPPP PJ2K2J2 J2 P P P PPPPPP PL2D2L2PL2 TM2TM2T NN2NN2N NVNVN O2D2P2D2P2 Q2 PR2PC2P VB2VD2V S2PS2T2S2 PD2PU2V2 W2X2W2Y2W2 B2NB2NB2 PJ2PZ2P PPP P PA3PA3B3A3 PTPTD2T PC3D3C3E3C3 PQ2F3Q2D2Q2 PG3BG3P2G3 P D2 PNPNP PY2PY2P PPPPP PPPPPP PPNPNP PPPPPP PPPPPP PPH3PH3P PPD3PD3P

I	A
	-
At The Piano	B
	-
I	A
Love me and leave me what love bids retrieve me can June's fist grasp May	C
Leave me and love me hopes eyed once above me like spring's sprouts decay	C
Fall as the snow falls when summer leaves grow false cards packed for storm's play	C
	-
II	A
Nay say Decay's self be but last May's elf wing shifted eye sheathed	D
Changeling in April's crib rocked who lets 'scape rills locked fast since frost breathed	D
Skin cast think adder like now bloom bursts bladder like bloom frost bequeathed	E
	-
III	A
Ah how can fear sit and hear as love hears it grief's heart's cracked grate's screech	F
Chance lets the gate sway that opens on hate's way and shews on shame's beach	F
Crouched like an imp sly change watch sweet love's shrimps lie a toothful in each	F
	-
IV	-
Time feels his tooth slip on husks wet from Truth's lip which drops them and grins	G
Shells where no throb stirs of life left in lobsters since joy thrilled their fins	G
Hues of the prawn's tail or comb that makes dawn stale so red for our sins	G
	-
V	-
Years blind and deaf use the soul's joys as refuse heart's peace as manure	H
Reared whence next June's rose shall bloom where our moons rose last year just as pure	H
Moons' ends match roses' ends men by beasts' noses' ends mete sin's stink's cure	H
	-
VI	-
Leaves love last year smelt now feel dead love's tears melt flies caught in time's mesh	I
Salt are the dews in which new time breeds new sin brews blood and stews flesh	I
Next year may see dead more germs than this weeded and reared them afresh	I
	-
VII	-
Old times left perish there's new time to cherish life just shifts its tune	J
As when the day dies earth half afraid eyes the growth of the moon	J
Love me and save me take me or waive me death takes one so soon	J
	-
II	A
	-
By The Cliff	-
	-
I	A
Is it daytime guess	K
You that feed my soul	L
To excess	K
With that light in those eyes	M
And those curls drawn like a scroll	L
In that round grave guise	M
No or yes	K
	-
II	A
Oh the end I'd say	C
Such a foolish thing	N
Pure girls' play	C
As a mere mute heart	O
Was it worth a kiss a ring	N
This for two must part	O
Not to day	C
	-
III	A
Look the whole sand crawls	P
Hums a heaving hive	-
Scrapes and scrawls	P
Such a buzz and burst	Q
Here just one thing's not alive	-
One that was at first	Q
But life palls	P
	-
IV	-
Yes my heart I know	B
Just my heart's stone dead	R
Yes just so	B
Sick with heat those worms	P
Drop down scorched and overfed	R
No more need of germs	P
Let them go	B
	-
V	-
Yes but you now look	S
You the rouged stage female	T
With a crook	S
Chalked Arcadian sham	U
You that made my soul's sleep's dream ail	T
Your soul fit to damn	U
Shut the book	S
	-
III	A
	-
On The Sands	P
	-
I	A
There was nothing at all in the case conceive	-
But love being love it was not understand	V
Such a thing as the years let fall believe	-
Like the rope's coil dropt from a fisherman's hand	V
When the boat's hauled up by your leave	-
	-
II	A
So well How that crab writhes leg after leg	W
Drawn as a worm draws ring upon ring	N
Gradually not gladly Chicken or egg	W
Is it more than the ransom say of a king	N
Take my meaning at least that I beg	W
	-
III	A
Not so You were ready to learn I think	X
What the world said He loves you too well suppose	P
For such leanings These poets their love's mere ink	X
Like a flower their flame flashes a rosebud blows	P
Then it all drops down at a wink	X
	-
IV	-
Ah the instance A curl of a blossomless vine	Y
The vinedresser passing it sickens to see	-
And mutters 'Much hope under God of His wine	Y
From the branch and the bark of a barren tree	-
Spring reared not and winter lets pine	Y
	-
V	-
'His wine that should glorify saith He the cup	Z
That a man beholding not tasting might say	P
Pour out life at a draught drain it dry drink it up	Z
Give this one thing and huddle the rest away	P
Save the bitch and be hanged to the pup	Z
	-
VI	-
'Let it rot then ' which saying he leaves it we'll guess	P
Feels if the sap move at all thus much	A2
Yearns and would blossom would quicken no less	P
Bud at an eye's glance flower at a touch	A2
'Die perhaps would you not for her ' 'Yes '	-
	-
VII	-
Note the hitch there That's piteous so much being done	B2
He'll think some day your lover so little to do	C2
Such infinite days to wear out once begun	B2
Since the hand its glove holds and the footsole its shoe	C2
Overhead too there's always the sun	B2
	-
VIII	-
Oh no doubt they had said so your friends been profuse	P
Of good counsel wise hints where the trap lurks walk warily	-
Squeeze the fruit to the core ere you count on the juice	P
For the graft may fail shift wax change colour wane vary lie	-
You were cautious God knows to what use	P
	-
IX	P
This crab's wiser it strikes me no twist but implies life	-
Not a curl but's so fit you could find none fitter	D2
For the brute from its brutehood looks up thus and eyes life	-
Stoop your soul down and listen you'll hear it twitter	D2
Laughing lightly my crab's life's the wise life	-
	-
X	P
Those who've read S T Coleridge remember how Sammy sighs	P
To his pensive I think he says Sara most soothing sweet	E2
Crab's bulk's less look than man's yet quoth Cancer I am my size	P
And my bulk's girth contents me Man's maw see craves two things wheat	E2
And flesh likewise man's gluttonous damn his eyes	P
	-
XI	P
Crab's content with crab's provender crab's love if soothing	N
Is no sweeter than pincers are soft and a new sickle	F2
Cuts no sharper than crab's claws nip keen as boar's toothing	N
Yet crab's love's no less fervent than bard's if less musical	F2
'Tis a new thing I'd lilt but a true thing	N
	-
XII	P
Old songs tell us of all drinks for Englishmen fighting ale's	P
Out and out best salt water contents crab it seems to me	P
Though pugnacious as sailors and skilled to steer right in gales	P
That craze pilots if slow to sing Sleep'st thou thou dream'st o' me	P
In such love strains as mine or a nightingale's	P
	-
XIII	P
Ah now look you tail foremost the beast sets seaward	G2
The sea draws it sand sucks it he's wise my crab	H2
From the napkin out jumps his one talent good steward	G2
Just judge So a man shirks the smile or the stab	H2
And sets his sail duly to leeward	G2
	-
XIV	-
Trust me Hardly I bid you not lean remark	N
On my spirit your spirit my flesh your flesh	I
Hold my hand and tread safe through the horrible dark	N
Quench my soul as with sprinklings of snow then refresh	I
With some blast of new bellows the spark	N
	-
XV	-
By no means This were easy men tell me to say	P
Give her all throw your chance up fall back on her heart	O
Say my friends she must change after night follows day	P
No such fool I am safe set in hell for my part	O
So let heaven do the worst now he may	P
	-
XVI	-
What they bid me Well this nothing more Tell her this	P
'You are mine I yours though the whole world fail	T
Though things are not I know there is one thing which is	P
Though the oars break there's hope for us yet hoist the sail	T
Oh your heart what's the heart but your kiss '	-
	-
XVII	-
Then she breaks she drops down she lies flat at your feet	E2
Take her then Well I knew it what fools are men	I2
Take the bee by her horns will your honey prove sweet	E2
Sweet is grass will you pasture your cows in a fen	I2
Oh if contraries could but once meet	E2
	-
XVIII	-
Love you call it Some twitch in the moon's face observe	-
Wet blink of her eyelid tear dropt about dewfall	T
Cheek flushed or obscured does it make the sky swerve	-
Fetch the test work the question to rags bring to proof all	T
Find what souls want and bodies deserve	-
	-
XIX	P
Ah we know you Your soul works to infinite ends	P
Frets uses life up for death's sake takes pains	P
Flings down love's self but you bear me witness my friends	P
Have I lost spring count up see the winter's fresh gains	P
Is the shrub spoilt the pine's hair impends	P
	-
XX	P
What you'd say Mark how God works Years crowd time wears thin	J2
Earth keeps good yet the sun goes on stars hold their own	K2
And you'll change climb past sight of the world shift your skin	J2
Never heeding how life moans 'more flesh now less bone '	-
For that cheek's worn waste outline death's grin	J2
	-
XXI	P
Pleads with time still 'what good if I lose this but see '	-
There's the crab gone 'I said Though earth sinks ' you perceive	-
Ah true back there your soul now ' yet some vein might be	P
Could one find it alive in the heart's core's pulse cleave	-
Through the life springs where you melts in me	P
	-
XXII	P
' Some true vein of the absolute soul which survives	P
All that flesh runs to waste through and lo this fails	P
Here's death close on us One life a million of lives	P
Why choose one sail to watch of these infinite sails	P
Time's a tennis play thank you no fives	P
	-
XXIII	P
'Stop life's ball then ' Such folly melt earth down for that	L2
Till the pure ore eludes you and leaves you raw scori	D2
Pish the vein's wrong But you friends come what were you at	L2
When God spat you out suddenly what was the story He	P
Cut short thus the growth He laid flat	L2
	-
XXIV	-
Wait the crab's twice alive mark Oh worthy your soul	T
Of strange ends great results novel labours Take note	M2
I reject this for one ay now straight to the hole	T
Safe in sand there your skirts smooth out all as they float	M2
I shirk drinking through flaws in the bowl	T
	-
XXV	-
Or suppose now that rock's cleft grim scored to the quick	N
As a man's face kept fighting all life through gets scored	N2
Mossed and marked with grey purulent leprosies sick	N
Flat and foul as man's life here be swift with your sword	N2
Cut the soul out stuck fast where thorns prick	N
	-
XXVI	-
Say it let the rock's heart out its meaning the thing	N
All was made for devised ruled out gradually planned	V
Ah that sea shell perhaps since it lies such a ring	N
Of pure colour a cup full of sunbeams to stand	V
Say in Lent at the priest's hand no king	N
	-
XXVII	-
Blame the cleft then Praise rather So just a chance gone	O2
Had you said Save the seed and secure souls in flower	D2
Ah how time laughs years palpitate pro grapples con	P2
Till one day you shrug shoulders Well gone the good hour	D2
Till one night Is God off now or on	P2
	-
IV	-
	-
Up The Spout	Q2
	-
I	-
Hi Just you drop that Stop I say	P
Shirk work think slink off twist friend's wrist	R2
Where that spined sand's lined band's the bay	P
Lined blind with true sea's blue as due	C2
Promising not to pay	P
	-
II	-
For the sea's debt leaves wet the sand	V
Burst worst fate's weights in one burst gun	B2
A man's own yacht blown What off land	V
Tack back or veer round here then queer	D2
Reef points though understand	V
	-
III	-
I'm blest if I do Sigh be blowed	S2
Love's doves make break life's ropes eh Tropes	P
Faith's brig baulked sides caulked rides at road	S2
Hope's gropes befogged storm dogged and bogged	T2
Clogged water logged her load	S2
	-
IV	-
Stowed by Jove right and tight away	P
No show now how best plough sea's brow	D2
Wrinkling breeze quick tease thick ere day	P
Clear sheer wave's sheen of green I mean	U2
With twinkling wrinkles eh	V2
	-
V	-
Sea sprinkles winkles tinkles light	W2
Shells' bells boy's joys that hap to snap	X2
It's just sea's fun breeze done to spite	W2
God's rods that scourge her surge I'd urge	Y2
Not proper is it quite	W2
	-
VI	-
See fore and aft life's craft undone	B2
Crank plank split spritsail mark sea's lark	N
That grey cold sea's old sprees begun	B2
When men lay dark i' the ark no spark	N
All water just God's fun	B2
	-
VII	-
Not bright at best his jest to these	P
Seemed screamed shrieked wreaked on kin for sin	J2
When for mirth's yell earth's knell seemed please	P
Some dumb new grim great whim in him	Z2
Made Jews take chalk for cheese	P
	-
VIII	-
Could God's rods bruise God's Jews Their jowls	P
Bobbed sobbed gaped aped the plaice in face	P
None heard 'tis odds his God's folk's howls	P
Now how must I apply to try	-
This hookiest beaked of owls	P
	-
IX	P
Well I suppose God knows I don't	A3
Time's crimes mark dark men's types in stripes	P
Broad as fen's lands men's hands were wont	A3
Leave grieve unploughed though proud and loud	B3
With birds' words No he won't	A3
	-
X	P
One never should think good impossible	T
Eh say I'd hide this Jew's oil's cruse	P
His shop might hold bright gold engrossible	T
By spy spring's air takes there no care	D2
To wave the heath flower's glossy bell	T
	-
XI	P
But gold bells chime in time there coined	C3
Gold Old Sphinx winks there Read my screed	D3
Doctrine Jews learn use burn for joined	C3
Through new craft's stealth with health and wealth	E3
At once all three purloined	C3
	-
XII	P
I rose with dawn to pawn no doubt	Q2
Miss this chance glance untried aside	F3
John's shirt my no Ay so the lout	Q2
Let yet the door gape store on floor	D2
And not a soul about	Q2
	-
XIII	P
Such men lay traps perhaps and I'm	G3
Weak meek mild child of woe you know	B
But theft I doubt my lout calls crime	G3
Shrink Think Love's dawn in pawn you spawn	P2
Of Jewry Just in time	G3
	-
V	P
	-
Off The Pier	D2
	-
I	-
One last glance at these sands and stones	P
Time goes past men and lives to his liking	N
Steals and ruins and sometimes atones	P
Why should he be king though and why not I king	N
There now that wind like a swarm of sick drones	P
	-
II	-
Is it heaven or mere earth come that moves so and moans	P
Oh I knew when you loved me my soul was in flowerage	Y2
Now the frost comes from prime though I watched through to nones	P
Read love's litanies over his age was not our age	Y2
No more flutes in this world for me now dear trombones	P
	-
III	-
All that youth once denied and made mouths at age owns	P
Facts put fangs out and bite us life stings and grows viperous	P
And time's fugues are a hubbub of meaningless tones	P
Once we followed the piper now why not the piper us	P
Love grown grey plays mere solos we want antiphones	P
	-
IV	P
And we sharpen our wits up with passions for hones	P
Melt down loadstars for magnets use women for whetstones	P
Learn to bear with dead calms by remembering cyclones	P
Snap strings short with sharp thumbnails till silence begets tones	P
Burn our souls out shift spirits turn skins and change zones	P
	-
V	P
Then the heart when all's done with wakes whimpers intones	P
Some lost fragment of tune it thought sweet ere it grew sick	N
Is it life that disclaims this or death that disowns	P
Mere dead metal scrawled bars ah one touch you make music	N
Love's worth saving youth doubts but experience depones	P
	-
VI	P
In the darkness right Dickens of Tom All Alone's	P
Or the Morgue out in Paris where tragedy centuples	P
Life's effects by Death's algebra Shakespeare Malone's	P
Might have said sleep was murdered new scholiasts have sent you pills	P
To purge text of him Bread give me Scottic scones	P
	-
VII	P
Think what use when youth's saddle galls bay's back or roan's	P
To seek chords on love's keys to strike other than his chords	P
There's an error joy winks at and grief half condones	P
Or life's counterpoint grates the C major of discords	P
'Tis man's choice 'twixt sluts rose crowned and queens age dethrones	P
	-
VIII	P
I for instance might groan as a bag pipe groans	P
Give the flesh of my heart for sharp sorrows to flagellate	H3
Grief might grind my cheeks down age make sticks of my bones	P
Though a queen drowned in tears must be worth more than Madge elate	H3
Rose might turn burdock and pine apples cones	P
	-
IX	P
My skin might change to a pitiful crone's	P
My lips to a lizard's my hair to weed	D3
My features in fact to a series of loans	P
Thus much is conceded now you concede	D3
You would hardly salute me by choice John Jones	P

Algernon Charles Swinburne

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