The Bothie Of Tober-na-vuolich - Vii Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B CD EFGHCIDJKLMBDJJDNACJ DODHDIIPIGIQKJDRIJNH SKTDJDDUFSDJNKDCDDDK KVKAITJJJKEDIDPKBCII DSDIDDGDTSWCSSDNKCJC CDD CTACSKDDCJDPIITNAKTD JDKDDVTDJDJTIJSDDIAS TITDDTCIKCCIDCHKKDGT I CSTDBTIKIIDLDJISDJLD ST

A Long Vacation PastoralA
-
-
VIIB
-
Vesper adest juvenes consurgite Vesper OlympoC
Expectata diu vix tandem lumina tollitD
-
For she confessed as they sat in the dusk and he saw not her blushesE
Elspie confessed at the sports long ago with her father she saw himF
When at the door the old man had told him the name of the bothieG
Then after that at the dance yet again at a dance in RannochH
And she was silent confused Confused much rather PhilipC
Buried his face in his hands his face that with blood was burstingI
Silent confused yet by pity she conquered her fear and continuedD
Katie is good and not silly be comforted Sir about herJ
Katie is good and not silly tender but not like manyK
Carrying off and at once for fear of being seen in the bosomL
Locking up as in a cupboard the pleasure that any man gives themM
Keeping it out of sight as a prize they need be ashamed ofB
That is the way I think Sir in England more than in ScotlandD
No she lives and takes pleasure in all as in beautiful weatherJ
Sorry to lose it but just as we would be to lose fine weatherJ
And she is strong to return to herself and feel undesertedD
Oh she is strong and not silly she thinks no further about youN
She has had kerchiefs before from gentle I know as from simpleA
Yes she is good and not silly yet were you wrong Mr PhilipC
Wrong for yourself perhaps more than for herJ
But Philip replied notD
Raised not his eyes from the hands on his kneesO
And Elspie continuedD
That was what gave me much pain when I met you that dance at RannochH
Dancing myself too with you while Katie danced with DonaldD
That was what gave me such pain I thought it all a mistakingI
All a mere chance you know and accident not proper choosingI
There were at least five or six not there no that I don't sayP
But in the country about you might just as well have been courtingI
That was what gave me much pain and you won't remember that thoughG
Three days after I met you beside my uncle's walkingI
And I was wondering much and hoped you wouldn't noticeQ
So as I passed I couldn't help looking You didn't know meK
But I was glad when I heard next day you were gone to the teacherJ
And uplifting his face at last with eyes dilatedD
Large as great stars in mist and dim with dabbled lashesR
Philip with new tears startingI
You think I do not rememberJ
Said suppose that I did not observe Ah me shall I tell youN
Elspie it was your look that sent me away from RannochH
It was your glance that descending an instant revelationS
Showed me where I was and whitherward going recalled meK
Sent me not to my books but to wrestlings of thought in the mountainsT
Yes I have carried your glance within me undimmed unalteredD
As a lost boat the compass some passing ship has lent herJ
Many a weary mile on road and hill and moorlandD
And you suppose that I do not remember I had not observed itD
O did the sailor bewildered observe when they told him his bearingsU
O did he cast overboard when they parted the compass they gave himF
And he continued more firmly although with stronger emotionS
Elspie why should I speak it you cannot believe it and should notD
Why should I say that I love which I all but said to anotherJ
Yet should I dare should I say O Elspie you only I love youN
First and sole in my life that has been and surely that shall beK
Could O could you believe it O Elspie believe it and spurn notD
Is it possible possible ElspieC
Well she answeredD
And she was silent some time and blushed all over and answeredD
Quietly after her fashion still knitting Maybe I think of itD
Though I don't know that I did and she paused again but it may beK
Yes I don't know Mr Philip but only it feels to me strangelyK
Like to the high new bridge they used to build at below thereV
Over the burn and glen on the road You won't understand meK
But I keep saying in my mind this long time slowly with troubleA
I have been building myself up up and toilfully raisingI
Just like as if the bridge were to do it itself without masonsT
Painfully getting myself upraised one stone on anotherJ
All one side I mean and now I see on the otherJ
Just such another fabric uprising better and strongerJ
Close to me coming to join me and then I sometimes fancyK
Sometimes I find myself dreaming at nights about arches and bridgesE
Sometimes I dream of a great invisible hand coming down andD
Dropping the great key stone in the middle there in my dreamingI
There I felt the great key stone coming in and through itD
Feel the other part all the other stones of the archwayP
Joined into mine with a strange happy sense of completeness But dear meK
This is confusion and nonsense I mix all the things I can think ofB
And you won't understand Mr PhilipC
But while she was speakingI
So it happened a moment she paused from her work and ponderingI
Laid her hand on her lap Philip took it she did not resistD
So he retained her fingers the knitting being stopped But emotionS
Came all over her more and yet more from his hand from her heart andD
Most from the sweet idea and image her brain was renewingI
So he retained her hand and his tears down dropping on itD
Trembling a long time kissed it at last And she endedD
And as she ended uprose he saying What have I heard OhG
What have I done that such words should be said to me Oh I see itD
See the great key stone coming down from the heaven of heavensT
And he fell at her feet and buried his face in her apronS
But as under the moon and stars they went to the cottageW
Elspie sighed and said Be patient dear Mr PhilipC
Do not do anything hasty It is all so soon so suddenS
Do not say anything yet to any oneS
Elspie he answeredD
Does not my friend go on Friday I then shall see nothing of youN
Do not I go myself on MondayK
But oh he said ElspieC
Do as I bid you my child do not go on calling me MrJ
Might I not just as well be calling you Miss ElspieC
Call me this heavenly night for once for the first time PhilipC
Philip she said and laughed and said she could not say itD
Philip she said he turned and kissed the sweet lips as they said itD
-
But on the morrow Elspie kept out of the way of PhilipC
And at the evening seat when he took her hand by the aldersT
Drew it back saying almost peevishlyA
No Mr PhilipC
I was quite right last night it is too soon too suddenS
What I told you before was foolish perhaps was hastyK
When I think it over I am shocked and terrified at itD
Not that at all I unsay it that is I know I said itD
And when I said it felt it But oh we must wait Mr PhilipC
We mustn't pull ourselves at the great key stone of the centreJ
Some one else up above must hold it fit it and fix itD
If we try ourselves we shall only damage the archwayP
Damage all our own work that we wrought our painful upbuildingI
When you remember you took my hand last evening talkingI
I was all over a tremble and as you pressed the fingersT
After and afterwards kissed it I could not speak And then tooN
As we went home you kissed me for saying your name It was dreadfulA
I have been kissed before she added blushing slightlyK
I have been kissed more than once by Donald my cousin and othersT
It is the way of the lads and I make up my mind not to mind itD
But Mr Philip last night and from you it was different quite SirJ
When I think of all that I am shocked and terrified at itD
Yes it is dreadful to meK
She paused but quickly continuedD
Smiling almost fiercely continued looking upwardD
You are too strong you see Mr Philip just like the sea thereV
Which will come through the straits and all between the mountainsT
Forcing its great strong tide into every nook and inletD
Getting far in up the quiet stream of sweet inland waterJ
Sucking it up and stopping it turning it driving it backwardD
Quite preventing its own quiet running and then soon afterJ
Back it goes off leaving weeds on the shore and wrack and uncleannessT
And the poor burn in the glen tries again its peaceful runningI
But it is brackish and tainted and all its banks in disorderJ
That was what I dreamt all last night I was the burnieS
Trying to get along through the tyrannous brine and could notD
I was confined and squeezed in the coils of the great salt tide thatD
Would mix in itself with me and change me I felt myself changingI
And I struggled and screamed I believe in my dream It was dreadfulA
You are too strong Mr Philip I am but a poor slender burnieS
Used to the glens and the rocks the rowan and birch of the woodiesT
Quite unused to the great salt sea quite afraid and unwillingI
Ere she had spoken two words had Philip released her fingersT
As she went on he recoiled fell back and shook and shiveredD
There he stood looking pale and ghastly when she had endedD
Answering in hollow voiceT
It is true oh quite true ElspieC
Oh you are always right oh what what have I been doingI
I will depart to morrow But oh forget me not whollyK
Wholly Elspie nor hate me no do not hate me my ElspieC
But a revulsion passed through the brain and bosom of ElspieC
And she got up from her seat on the rock putting by her knittingI
Went to him where he stood and answeredD
No Mr PhilipC
No you are good Mr Philip and gentle and I am the foolishH
No Mr Philip forgive meK
She stepped right to him and boldlyK
Took up his hand and placed it in hers he dared no movementD
Took up the cold hanging hand up forcing the heavy elbowG
I am afraid she said but I will and kissed the fingersT
And he fell on his knees and kissed her own past countingI
-
But a revulsion wrought in the brain and bosom of ElspieC
And the passion she just had compared to the vehement oceanS
Urging in high spring tide its masterful way through the mountainsT
Forcing and flooding the silvery stream as it runs from the inlandD
That great power withdrawn receding here and passiveB
Felt she in myriad springs her sources far in the mountainsT
Stirring collecting rising upheaving forth outflowingI
Taking and joining right welcome that delicate rill in the valleyK
Filling it making it strong and still descending seekingI
With a blind forefeeling descending ever and seekingI
With a delicious forefeeling the great still sea before itD
There deep into it far to carry and lose in its bosomL
Waters that still from their sources exhaustless are fain to be addedD
As he was kissing her fingers and knelt on the ground before herJ
Yielding backward she sank to her seat and of what she was doingI
Ignorant bewildered in sweet multitudinous vague emotionS
Stooping knowing not what put her lips to the hair on his foreheadD
And Philip raising himself gently for the first time round herJ
Passing his arms close close enfolded her close to his bosomL
As they went home by the moon Forgive me Philip she whisperedD
I have so many things to think of all of a suddenS
I who had never once thought a thing in my ignorant HighlandsT

Arthur Hugh Clough



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about The Bothie Of Tober-na-vuolich - Vii poem by Arthur Hugh Clough


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 0 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets