March: An Ode Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBCCBCC ADDEEDED ACCFFCFC GGHHGHG II I JJKKJKJ LLDDLDL| I | A |
| Ere frost flower and snow blossom faded and fell and the splendour of winter had passed out of sight | B |
| The ways of the woodlands were fairer and stranger than dreams that fulfil us in sleep with delight | B |
| The breath of the mouths of the winds had hardened on tree tops and branches that glittered and swayed | C |
| Such wonders and glories of blossomlike snow or of frost that outlightens all flowers till it fade | C |
| That the sea was not lovelier than here was the land nor the night than the day nor the day than the night | B |
| Nor the winter sublimer with storm than the spring such mirth had the madness and might in thee made | C |
| March master of winds bright minstrel and marshal of storms that enkindle the season they smite | C |
| - | |
| II | A |
| And now that the rage of thy rapture is satiate with revel and ravin and spoil of the snow | D |
| And the branches it brightened are broken and shattered the tree tops that only thy wrath could lay low | D |
| How should not thy lovers rejoice in thee leader and lord of the year that exults to be born | E |
| So strong in thy strength and so glad of thy gladness whose laughter puts winter and sorrow to scorn | E |
| Thou hast shaken the snows from thy wings and the frost on thy forehead is molten thy lips are aglow | D |
| As a lover's that kindle with kissing and earth with her raiment and tresses yet wasted and torn | E |
| Takes breath as she smiles in the grasp of thy passion to feel through her spirit the sense of thee flow | D |
| - | |
| III | A |
| Fain fain would we see but again for an hour what the wind and the sun have dispelled and consumed | C |
| Those full deep swan soft feathers of snow with whose luminous burden the branches implumed | C |
| Hung heavily curved as a half bent bow and fledged not as birds are but petalled as flowers | F |
| Each tree top and branchlet a pinnacle jewelled and carved or a fountain that shines as it showers | F |
| But fixed as a fountain is fixed not and wrought not to last till by time or by tempest entombed | C |
| As a pinnacle carven and gilded of men for the date of its doom is no more than an hour's | F |
| One hour of the sun's when the warm wind wakes him to wither the snow flowers that froze as they bloomed | C |
| - | |
| IV | - |
| As the sunshine quenches the snowshine as April subdues thee and yields up his kingdom to May | G |
| So time overcomes the regret that is born of delight as it passes in passion away | G |
| And leaves but a dream for desire to rejoice in or mourn for with tears or thanksgivings but thou | H |
| Bright god that art gone from us maddest and gladdest of months to what goal hast thou gone from us now | H |
| For somewhere surely the storm of thy laughter that lightens the beat of thy wings that play | G |
| Must flame as a fire through the world and the heavens that we know not rejoice in thee surely thy brow | H |
| Hath lost not its radiance of empire thy spirit the joy that impelled it on quest as for prey | G |
| - | |
| V | - |
| Are thy feet on the ways of the limitless waters thy wings on the winds of the waste north sea | - |
| Are the fires of the false north dawn over heavens where summer is stormful and strong like thee | - |
| Now bright in the sight of thine eyes are the bastions of icebergs assailed by the blast of thy breath | I |
| Is it March with the wild north world when April is waning the word that the changed year saith | I |
| Is it echoed to northward with rapture of passion reiterate from spirits triumphant as we | - |
| Whose hearts were uplift at the blast of thy clarions as men's rearisen from a sleep that was death | I |
| And kindled to life that was one with the world's and with thine hast thou set not the whole world free | - |
| - | |
| VI | - |
| For the breath of thy lips is freedom and freedom's the sense of thy spirit the sound of thy song | J |
| Glad god of the north east wind whose heart is as high as the hands of thy kingdom are strong | J |
| Thy kingdom whose empire is terror and joy twin featured and fruitful of births divine | K |
| Days lit with the flame of the lamps of the flowers and nights that are drunken with dew for wine | K |
| And sleep not for joy of the stars that deepen and quicken a denser and fierier throng | J |
| And the world that thy breath bade whiten and tremble rejoices at heart as they strengthen and shine | K |
| And earth gives thanks for the glory bequeathed her and knows of thy reign that it wrought not wrong | J |
| - | |
| VII | - |
| Thy spirit is quenched not albeit we behold not thy face in the crown of the steep sky's arch | L |
| And the bold first buds of the whin wax golden and witness arise of the thorn and the larch | L |
| Wild April enkindled to laughter and storm by the kiss of the wildest of winds that blow | D |
| Calls loud on his brother for witness his hands that were laden with blossom are sprinkled with snow | D |
| And his lips breathe winter and laugh and relent and the live woods feel not the frost's flame parch | L |
| For the flame of the spring that consumes not but quickens is felt at the heart of the forest aglow | D |
| And the sparks that enkindled and fed it were strewn from the hands of the gods of the winds of March | L |
Algernon Charles Swinburne
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