Vanity Of All Worldly Things, The Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBAACCDDEEFFGHIIJJ KKFFLLMMDDGGFFNOFFPP QQFFRRFFFFSSPPFF| As he said vanity so vain say I | A |
| Oh Vanity O vain all under sky | A |
| Where is the man can say Lo I have found | B |
| On brittle earth a consolation sound | B |
| What isn't in honor to be set on high | A |
| No they like beasts and sons of men shall die | A |
| And whilst they live how oft doth turn their fate | C |
| He's now a captive that was king of late | C |
| What isn't in wealth great treasures to obtain | D |
| No that's but labor anxious care and pain | D |
| He heaps up riches and he heaps up sorrow | E |
| It's his today but who's his heir tomorrow | E |
| What then Content in pleasures canst thou find | F |
| More vain than all that's but to grasp the wind | F |
| The sensual senses for a time they pleasure | G |
| Meanwhile the conscience rage who shall appease | H |
| What isn't in beauty No that's but a snare | I |
| They're foul enough today that once were fair | I |
| What is't in flow'ring youth or manly age | J |
| The first is prone to vice the last to rage | J |
| Where is it then in wisdom learning arts | K |
| Sure if on earth it must be in those parts | K |
| Yet these the wisest man of men did find | F |
| But vanity vexation of the mind | F |
| And he that know the most doth still bemoan | L |
| He knows not all that here is to be known | L |
| What is it then To do as stoics tell | M |
| Nor laugh nor weep let things go ill or well | M |
| Such stoics are but stocks such teaching vain | D |
| While man is man he shall have ease or pain | D |
| If not in honor beauty age nor treasure | G |
| Nor yet in learning wisdom youth nor pleasure | G |
| Where shall I climb sound seek search or find | F |
| That summum bonum which may stay my mind | F |
| There is a path no vulture's eye hath seen | N |
| Where lion fierce nor lion's whelps have been | O |
| Which leads unto that living crystal fount | F |
| Who drinks thereof the world doth naught account | F |
| The depth and sea have said 'tis not in me | P |
| With pearl and gold it shall not valued be | P |
| For sapphire onyx topaz who would change | Q |
| It's hid from eyes of men they count it strange | Q |
| Death and destruction the fame hath heard | F |
| But where and what it is from heaven's declared | F |
| It brings to honor which shall ne'er decay | R |
| It stores with wealth which time can't wear away | R |
| It yieldeth pleasures far beyond conceit | F |
| And truly beautifies without deceit | F |
| Nor strength nor wisdom nor fresh youth shall fade | F |
| Nor death shall see but are immortal made | F |
| This pearl of price this tree of life this spring | S |
| Who is possessed of shall reign a king | S |
| Nor change of state nor cares shall ever see | P |
| But wear his crown unto eternity | P |
| This satiates the soul this stays the mind | F |
| And all the rest but vanity we find | F |
Anne Bradstreet
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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