Malmaison Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCCADECFGCCHI CE A JCKCDJLMNOIPN C QIRSETU VT CCDCAC A JCECNCC ICENEBWNDXCCCY I Z CEC NCA2IJINCCEB2C2 ECECD2YD CWCE2CF2G2F2H2E A2 OEI2 NT DCG DJ2CKCE GI | A |
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How the slates of the roof sparkle in the sun over there over there | B |
beyond the high wall How quietly the Seine runs in loops and windings | C |
over there over there sliding through the green countryside Like ships | C |
of the line stately with canvas the tall clouds pass along the sky | A |
over the glittering roof over the trees over the looped and curving river | D |
A breeze quivers through the linden trees Roses bloom at Malmaison | E |
Roses Roses But the road is dusty Already the Citoyenne Beauharnais | C |
wearies of her walk Her skin is chalked and powdered with dust | F |
she smells dust and behind the wall are roses Roses with | G |
smooth open petals poised above rippling leaves Roses | C |
They have told her so The Citoyenne Beauharnais shrugs her shoulders | C |
and makes a little face She must mend her pace if she would be back | H |
in time for dinner Roses indeed The guillotine more likely | I |
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The tiered clouds float over Malmaison and the slate roof sparkles | C |
in the sun | E |
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II | A |
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Gallop Gallop The General brooks no delay Make way good people | J |
and scatter out of his path you and your hens and your dogs | C |
and your children The General is returned from Egypt and is come | K |
in a caleche' and four to visit his new property Throw open the gates | C |
you Porter of Malmaison Pull off your cap my man this is your master | D |
the husband of Madame Faster Faster A jerk and a jingle | J |
and they are arrived he and she Madame has red eyes Fie It is for joy | L |
at her husband's return Learn your place Porter A gentleman here | M |
for two months Fie Fie then Since when have you taken to gossiping | N |
Madame may have a brother I suppose That all green and red | O |
and glitter with flesh as dark as ebony that is a slave a bloodthirsty | I |
stabbing slashing heathen come from the hot countries to cure your tongue | P |
of idle whispering | N |
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A fine afternoon it is with tall bright clouds sailing over the trees | C |
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'Bonaparte mon ami the trees are golden like my star the star I pinned | Q |
to your destiny when I married you The gypsy you remember her prophecy | I |
My dear friend not here the servants are watching send them away | R |
and that flashing splendour Roustan Superb Imperial but | S |
My dear your arm is trembling I faint to feel it touching me No no | E |
Bonaparte not that spare me that did we not bury that last night | T |
You hurt me my friend you are so hot and strong Not long Dear | U |
no thank God not long ' | - |
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The looped river runs saffron for the sun is setting It is getting dark | V |
Dark Darker In the moonlight the slate roof shines palely milkily white | T |
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The roses have faded at Malmaison nipped by the frost What need for roses | C |
Smooth open petals her arms Fragrant outcurved petals her breasts | C |
He rises like a sun above her stooping to touch the petals press them wider | D |
Eagles Bees What are they to open roses A little shivering breeze | C |
runs through the linden trees and the tiered clouds blow across the sky | A |
like ships of the line stately with canvas | C |
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III | A |
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The gates stand wide at Malmaison stand wide all day The gravel | J |
of the avenue glints under the continual rolling of wheels | C |
An officer gallops up with his sabre clicking a mameluke gallops down | E |
with his charger kicking Valets de pied' run about in ones and twos | C |
and groups like swirled blown leaves Tramp Tramp The guard is changing | N |
and the grenadiers off duty lounge out of sight ranging along the roads | C |
toward Paris | C |
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The slate roof sparkles in the sun but it sparkles milkily vaguely | I |
the great glass houses put out its shining Glass stone and onyx | C |
now for the sun's mirror Much has come to pass at Malmaison | E |
New rocks and fountains blocks of carven marble fluted pillars uprearing | N |
antique temples vases and urns in unexpected places bridges of stone | E |
bridges of wood arbours and statues and a flood of flowers everywhere | B |
new flowers rare flowers parterre after parterre of flowers Indeed | W |
the roses bloom at Malmaison It is youth youth untrammeled and advancing | N |
trundling a country ahead of it as though it were a hoop Laughter | D |
and spur janglings in tessellated vestibules Tripping of clocked | X |
and embroidered stockings in little low heeled shoes over smooth grass plots | C |
India muslins spangled with silver patterns slide through trees | C |
mingle separate white day fireflies flashing moon brilliance | C |
in the shade of foliage | Y |
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'The kangaroos I vow Captain I must see the kangaroos ' | - |
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'As you please dear Lady but I recommend the shady linden alley | I |
and feeding the cockatoos ' | - |
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'They say that Madame Bonaparte's breed of sheep is the best in all France ' | - |
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'And oh have you seen the enchanting little cedar she planted | Z |
when the First Consul sent home the news of the victory of Marengo ' | - |
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Picking choosing the chattering company flits to and fro Over the trees | C |
the great clouds go tiered stately like ships of the line | E |
bright with canvas | C |
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Prisoners' base and its swooping veering racing giggling bumping | N |
The First Consul runs plump into M de Beauharnais and falls | C |
But he picks himself up smartly and starts after M Isabey Too late | A2 |
M Le Premier Consul Mademoiselle Hortense is out after you Quickly | I |
my dear Sir Stir your short legs she is swift and eager and as graceful | J |
as her mother She is there that other playing too but lightly warily | I |
bearing herself with care rather floating out upon the air than running | N |
never far from goal She is there borne up above her guests | C |
as something indefinably fair a rose above periwinkles A blown rose | C |
smooth as satin reflexed one loosened petal hanging back and down | E |
A rose that undulates languorously as the breeze takes it | B2 |
resting upon its leaves in a faintness of perfume | C2 |
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There are rumours about the First Consul Malmaison is full of women | E |
and Paris is only two leagues distant Madame Bonaparte stands | C |
on the wooden bridge at sunset and watches a black swan | E |
pushing the pink and silver water in front of him as he swims | C |
crinkling its smoothness into pleats of changing colour with his breast | D2 |
Madame Bonaparte presses against the parapet of the bridge | Y |
and the crushed roses at her belt melt petal by petal into the pink water | D |
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IV | - |
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A vile day Porter But keep your wits about you The Empress | C |
will soon be here Queer without the Emperor It is indeed | W |
but best not consider that Scratch your head and prick up your ears | C |
Divorce is not for you to debate about She is late Ah well | E2 |
the roads are muddy The rain spears are as sharp as whetted knives | C |
They dart down and down edged and shining Clop trop Clop trop | F2 |
A carriage grows out of the mist Hist Porter You can keep on your hat | G2 |
It is only Her Majesty's dogs and her parrot Clop trop | F2 |
The Ladies in Waiting Porter Clop trop It is Her Majesty At least | H2 |
I suppose it is but the blinds are drawn | E |
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'In all the years I have served Her Majesty she never before passed the gate | A2 |
without giving me a smile ' | - |
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You're a droll fellow to expect the Empress to put out her head | O |
in the pouring rain and salute you She has affairs of her own | E |
to think about | I2 |
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Clang the gate no need for further waiting nobody else will be coming | N |
to Malmaison to night | T |
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White under her veil drained and shaking the woman crosses the antechamber | D |
Empress Empress Foolish splendour perished to dust Ashes of roses | C |
ashes of youth Empress forsooth | G |
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Over the glass domes of the hot houses drenches the rain Behind her | D |
a clock ticks ticks again The sound knocks upon her thought | J2 |
with the echoing shudder of hollow vases She places her hands on her ears | C |
but the minutes pass knocking Tears in Malmaison And years to come | K |
each knocking by minute after minute Years many years and tears | C |
and cold pouring rain | E |
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'I feel as though I had died and the only sensation I have | - |
is that I am no more ' | - |
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Rain Heavy th | G |
Amy Lowell
(1)
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