The Questioning Spirit Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBABCCCBBDDEEFFGGH IJJKK LLMNMMMN CCCCOOAOCACACCNNNN| The human spirits saw I on a day | A |
| Sitting and looking each a different way | A |
| And hardly tasking subtly questioning | B |
| Another spirit went around the ring | B |
| To each and each and as he ceased his say | A |
| Each after each I heard them singly sing | B |
| Some querulously high some softly sadly low | C |
| We know not what avails to know | C |
| We know not wherefore need we know | C |
| This answer gave they still unto his suing | B |
| We know not let us do as we are doing | B |
| Dost thou not know that these things only seem | D |
| I know not let me dream my dream | D |
| Are dust and ashes fit to make a treasure | E |
| I know not let me take my pleasure | E |
| What shall avail the knowledge thou hast sought | F |
| I know not let me think my thought | F |
| What is the end of strife | G |
| I know not let me live my life | G |
| How many days or e'er thou mean'st to move | H |
| I know not let me love my love | I |
| Were not things old once new | J |
| I know not let me do as others do | J |
| And when the rest were over past | K |
| I know not I will do my duty said the last | K |
| - | |
| Thy duty do rejoined the voice | L |
| Ah do it do it and rejoice | L |
| But shalt thou then when all is done | M |
| Enjoy a love embrace a beauty | N |
| Like these that may be seen and won | M |
| In life whose course will then be run | M |
| Or wilt thou be where there is none | M |
| I know not I will do my duty | N |
| - | |
| And taking up the word around above below | C |
| Some querulously high some softly sadly low | C |
| We know not sang they all nor ever need we know | C |
| We know not sang they what avails to know | C |
| Whereat the questioning spirit some short space | O |
| Though unabashed stood quiet in his place | O |
| But as the echoing chorus died away | A |
| And to their dreams the rest returned apace | O |
| By the one spirit I saw him kneeling low | C |
| And in a silvery whisper heard him say | A |
| Truly thou know'st not and thou need'st not know | C |
| Hope only hope thou and believe alway | A |
| I also know not and I need not know | C |
| Only with questionings pass I to and fro | C |
| Perplexing these that sleep and in their folly | N |
| Imbreeding doubt and sceptic melancholy | N |
| Till that their dreams deserting they with me | N |
| Come all to this true ignorance and thee | N |
Arthur Hugh Clough
(1)
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