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 G

IA
-
How the slates of the roof sparkle in the sun over there over thereB
beyond the high wall How quietly the Seine runs in loops and windingsC
over there over there sliding through the green countryside Like shipsC
of the line stately with canvas the tall clouds pass along the skyA
over the glittering roof over the trees over the looped and curving riverD
A breeze quivers through the linden trees Roses bloom at MalmaisonE
Roses Roses But the road is dusty Already the Citoyenne BeauharnaisC
wearies of her walk Her skin is chalked and powdered with dustF
she smells dust and behind the wall are roses Roses withG
smooth open petals poised above rippling leaves RosesC
They have told her so The Citoyenne Beauharnais shrugs her shouldersC
and makes a little face She must mend her pace if she would be backH
in time for dinner Roses indeed The guillotine more likelyI
-
-
The tiered clouds float over Malmaison and the slate roof sparklesC
in the sunE
-
-
IIA
-
Gallop Gallop The General brooks no delay Make way good peopleJ
and scatter out of his path you and your hens and your dogsC
and your children The General is returned from Egypt and is comeK
in a caleche' and four to visit his new property Throw open the gatesC
you Porter of Malmaison Pull off your cap my man this is your masterD
the husband of Madame Faster Faster A jerk and a jingleJ
and they are arrived he and she Madame has red eyes Fie It is for joyL
at her husband's return Learn your place Porter A gentleman hereM
for two months Fie Fie then Since when have you taken to gossipingN
Madame may have a brother I suppose That all green and redO
and glitter with flesh as dark as ebony that is a slave a bloodthirstyI
stabbing slashing heathen come from the hot countries to cure your tongueP
of idle whisperingN
-
-
A fine afternoon it is with tall bright clouds sailing over the treesC
-
-
'Bonaparte mon ami the trees are golden like my star the star I pinnedQ
to your destiny when I married you The gypsy you remember her prophecyI
My dear friend not here the servants are watching send them awayR
and that flashing splendour Roustan Superb Imperial butS
My dear your arm is trembling I faint to feel it touching me No noE
Bonaparte not that spare me that did we not bury that last nightT
You hurt me my friend you are so hot and strong Not long DearU
no thank God not long '-
-
The looped river runs saffron for the sun is setting It is getting darkV
Dark Darker In the moonlight the slate roof shines palely milkily whiteT
-
The roses have faded at Malmaison nipped by the frost What need for rosesC
Smooth open petals her arms Fragrant outcurved petals her breastsC
He rises like a sun above her stooping to touch the petals press them widerD
Eagles Bees What are they to open roses A little shivering breezeC
runs through the linden trees and the tiered clouds blow across the skyA
like ships of the line stately with canvasC
-
-
IIIA
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The gates stand wide at Malmaison stand wide all day The gravelJ
of the avenue glints under the continual rolling of wheelsC
An officer gallops up with his sabre clicking a mameluke gallops downE
with his charger kicking Valets de pied' run about in ones and twosC
and groups like swirled blown leaves Tramp Tramp The guard is changingN
and the grenadiers off duty lounge out of sight ranging along the roadsC
toward ParisC
-
The slate roof sparkles in the sun but it sparkles milkily vaguelyI
the great glass houses put out its shining Glass stone and onyxC
now for the sun's mirror Much has come to pass at MalmaisonE
New rocks and fountains blocks of carven marble fluted pillars uprearingN
antique temples vases and urns in unexpected places bridges of stoneE
bridges of wood arbours and statues and a flood of flowers everywhereB
new flowers rare flowers parterre after parterre of flowers IndeedW
the roses bloom at Malmaison It is youth youth untrammeled and advancingN
trundling a country ahead of it as though it were a hoop LaughterD
and spur janglings in tessellated vestibules Tripping of clockedX
and embroidered stockings in little low heeled shoes over smooth grass plotsC
India muslins spangled with silver patterns slide through treesC
mingle separate white day fireflies flashing moon brillianceC
in the shade of foliageY
-
'The kangaroos I vow Captain I must see the kangaroos '-
-
'As you please dear Lady but I recommend the shady linden alleyI
and feeding the cockatoos '-
-
'They say that Madame Bonaparte's breed of sheep is the best in all France '-
-
'And oh have you seen the enchanting little cedar she plantedZ
when the First Consul sent home the news of the victory of Marengo '-
-
Picking choosing the chattering company flits to and fro Over the treesC
the great clouds go tiered stately like ships of the lineE
bright with canvasC
-
Prisoners' base and its swooping veering racing giggling bumpingN
The First Consul runs plump into M de Beauharnais and fallsC
But he picks himself up smartly and starts after M Isabey Too lateA2
M Le Premier Consul Mademoiselle Hortense is out after you QuicklyI
my dear Sir Stir your short legs she is swift and eager and as gracefulJ
as her mother She is there that other playing too but lightly warilyI
bearing herself with care rather floating out upon the air than runningN
never far from goal She is there borne up above her guestsC
as something indefinably fair a rose above periwinkles A blown roseC
smooth as satin reflexed one loosened petal hanging back and downE
A rose that undulates languorously as the breeze takes itB2
resting upon its leaves in a faintness of perfumeC2
-
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There are rumours about the First Consul Malmaison is full of womenE
and Paris is only two leagues distant Madame Bonaparte standsC
on the wooden bridge at sunset and watches a black swanE
pushing the pink and silver water in front of him as he swimsC
crinkling its smoothness into pleats of changing colour with his breastD2
Madame Bonaparte presses against the parapet of the bridgeY
and the crushed roses at her belt melt petal by petal into the pink waterD
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IV-
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A vile day Porter But keep your wits about you The EmpressC
will soon be here Queer without the Emperor It is indeedW
but best not consider that Scratch your head and prick up your earsC
Divorce is not for you to debate about She is late Ah wellE2
the roads are muddy The rain spears are as sharp as whetted knivesC
They dart down and down edged and shining Clop trop Clop tropF2
A carriage grows out of the mist Hist Porter You can keep on your hatG2
It is only Her Majesty's dogs and her parrot Clop tropF2
The Ladies in Waiting Porter Clop trop It is Her Majesty At leastH2
I suppose it is but the blinds are drawnE
-
'In all the years I have served Her Majesty she never before passed the gateA2
without giving me a smile '-
-
You're a droll fellow to expect the Empress to put out her headO
in the pouring rain and salute you She has affairs of her ownE
to think aboutI2
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Clang the gate no need for further waiting nobody else will be comingN
to Malmaison to nightT
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White under her veil drained and shaking the woman crosses the antechamberD
Empress Empress Foolish splendour perished to dust Ashes of rosesC
ashes of youth Empress forsoothG
-
Over the glass domes of the hot houses drenches the rain Behind herD
a clock ticks ticks again The sound knocks upon her thoughtJ2
with the echoing shudder of hollow vases She places her hands on her earsC
but the minutes pass knocking Tears in Malmaison And years to comeK
each knocking by minute after minute Years many years and tearsC
and cold pouring rainE
-
'I feel as though I had died and the only sensation I have-
is that I am no more '-
-
Rain Heavy thG

Amy Lowell



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