Before The Altar Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFFC CGHIGHJGKK JJGGLMLN MOOPNQQPGGKPRRSTRRP IGRRGG UU| Before the Altar bowed he stands | A |
| With empty hands | A |
| Upon it perfumed offerings burn | B |
| Wreathing with smoke the sacrificial urn | B |
| Not one of all these has he given | C |
| No flame of his has leapt to Heaven | C |
| Firesouled vermilion hearted | D |
| Forked and darted | E |
| Consuming what a few spare pence | F |
| Have cheaply bought to fling from hence | F |
| In idly asked petition | C |
| - | |
| His sole condition | C |
| Love and poverty | G |
| And while the moon | H |
| Swings slow across the sky | I |
| Athwart a waving pine tree | G |
| And soon | H |
| Tips all the needles there | J |
| With silver sparkles bitterly | G |
| He gazes while his soul | K |
| Grows hard with thinking of the poorness of his dole | K |
| - | |
| Shining and distant Goddess hear my prayer | J |
| Where you swim in the high air | J |
| With charity look down on me | G |
| Under this tree | G |
| Tending the gifts I have not brought | L |
| The rare and goodly things | M |
| I have not sought | L |
| Instead take from me all my life | N |
| - | |
| Upon the wings | M |
| Of shimmering moonbeams | O |
| I pack my poet's dreams | O |
| For you | P |
| My wearying strife | N |
| My courage my loss | Q |
| Into the night I toss | Q |
| For you | P |
| Golden Divinity | G |
| Deign to look down on me | G |
| Who so unworthily | K |
| Offers to you | P |
| All life has known | R |
| Seeds withered unsown | R |
| Hopes turning quick to fears | S |
| Laughter which dies in tears | T |
| The shredded remnant of a man | R |
| Is all the span | R |
| And compass of my offering to you | P |
| - | |
| Empty and silent I | I |
| Kneel before your pure calm majesty | G |
| On this stone in this urn | R |
| I pour my heart and watch it burn | R |
| Myself the sacrifice but be | G |
| Still unmoved Divinity | G |
| - | |
| From the altar bathed in moonlight | U |
| The smoke rose straight in the quiet night | U |
Amy Lowell
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About Before The Altar
Before The Altar is a poem by Amy Lowell. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about Before The Altar poem by Amy Lowell
Best Poems of Amy Lowell