Bacchus [excerpt] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDED FGFG HIHI JKJL MNMN HAHA OPOL QQQQ RJRJ JQJQ SQTQ RURU VPVP JJJJ QKQL QRQR| I am the gift of tongues that flame | A |
| Inspired resolve above | B |
| I wither the weeds of paltry aim | A |
| That choke the growth of love | B |
| - | |
| Though sometimes thro' forbidden gates | C |
| The drugged and drunken may | D |
| Intrude among initiates | E |
| And misconceive the play | D |
| - | |
| No self indulgence walks my stage | F |
| My frenzies make divine | G |
| My banqueter is saint and sage | F |
| A eucharist my wine | G |
| - | |
| No desecrated home shall be | H |
| No vice predestined birth | I |
| No stews of maudlin gluttony | H |
| When Bacchus rules the earth | I |
| - | |
| My rage that lit the cold Greek brow | J |
| And burned from Orphic lyre | K |
| Flames down the years to Tolstoi now | J |
| And back to Celtic fire | L |
| - | |
| I glowed in Hermit Peter's words | M |
| Savonarola's grim | N |
| St Francis understood the birds | M |
| Because I cherished him | N |
| - | |
| I am the surging Energy | H |
| No wintry Law can tame | A |
| Nay the god that overpowers me | H |
| Is Bacchus save in name | A |
| - | |
| 'Tis not alone on Naxian sod | O |
| Or mythic welkin where | P |
| Pale Ariadne meets her god | O |
| And Bacchus gladdens her | L |
| - | |
| I shine as bright from Nietzsche's eyes | Q |
| And grave Salvationist's | Q |
| As once in Soma sacrifice | Q |
| Or through Thessalian mists | Q |
| - | |
| And equally to fast and feast | R |
| I give my benison | J |
| Now Father Mathew is my priest | R |
| And now Anacreon | J |
| - | |
| 'Tis not enough that you avow | J |
| Allegiance at my gates | Q |
| Many who bear the wattle bough | J |
| Are not initiates | Q |
| - | |
| Nor all the revellers though dear | S |
| Who beat my doors with prayers | Q |
| But sing so sweet they cannot hear | T |
| The poor who knock at theirs | Q |
| - | |
| For 'Truth for Truth' and 'Art for Art' | R |
| And Song for the sake of Song | U |
| Must wait the turn of the breaking heart | R |
| Till Bacchus purges Wrong | U |
| - | |
| All that in Love ye cannot buy | V |
| In genius baffling prayer | P |
| In Art beyond the measuring eye | V |
| Is immanent Bacchus there | P |
| - | |
| But fearful are my Mystae when | J |
| To Bacchanalian hymn | J |
| They wrench the brute from the souls of men | J |
| And tear it limb from limb | J |
| - | |
| The old gods shuddered for they saw | Q |
| Their altar flames expire | K |
| Before the breath of a Higher Law | Q |
| That crucifies Desire | L |
| - | |
| The old priests paled till some more wise | Q |
| Built fanes where're I trod | R |
| Carried my throne to Olympian skies | Q |
| And named me the Son of God | R |
Bernard O'dowd
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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