On Turning Ten Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFG HIIJEKLMN ODFPQMR STUV WDXYZ| The whole idea of it makes me feel | A |
| like I'm coming down with something | B |
| something worse than any stomach ache | C |
| or the headaches I get from reading in bad light | D |
| a kind of measles of the spirit | E |
| a mumps of the psyche | F |
| a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul | G |
| - | |
| You tell me it is too early to be looking back | H |
| but that is because you have forgotten | I |
| the perfect simplicity of being one | I |
| and the beautiful complexity introduced by two | J |
| But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit | E |
| At four I was an Arabian wizard | K |
| I could make myself invisible | L |
| by drinking a glass of milk a certain way | M |
| At seven I was a soldier at nine a prince | N |
| - | |
| But now I am mostly at the window | O |
| watching the late afternoon light | D |
| Back then it never fell so solemnly | F |
| against the side of my tree house | P |
| and my bicycle never leaned against the garage | Q |
| as it does today | M |
| all the dark blue speed drained out of it | R |
| - | |
| This is the beginning of sadness I say to myself | S |
| as I walk through the universe in my sneakers | T |
| It is time to say good bye to my imaginary friends | U |
| time to turn the first big number | V |
| - | |
| It seems only yesterday I used to believe | W |
| there was nothing under my skin but light | D |
| If you cut me I could shine | X |
| But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life | Y |
| I skin my knees I bleed | Z |
Billy Collins
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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