Thirty-eight Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCCBDDBEEBFFBGGBHH BIIB JJBFFBKKLMNBOOBPPBII BQRBDDSTTTB| IN early youth's unclouded scene | A |
| The brilliant morning of eighteen | A |
| With health and sprightly joy elate | B |
| We gazed on life's enchanting spring | C |
| Nor thought how quickly time would bring | C |
| The mournful period Thirty eight | B |
| Then the starch maid or matron sage | D |
| Already at the sober age | D |
| We view'd with mingled scorn and hate | B |
| In whose sharp words or sharper face | E |
| With thoughtless mirth we loved to trace | E |
| The sad effects of Thirty eight | B |
| Till saddening sickening at the view | F |
| We learn'd to dread what Time might do | F |
| And then preferr'd a prayer to Fate | B |
| To end our days ere that arrived | G |
| When power and pleasure long survived | G |
| We met neglect and Thirty eight | B |
| But time in spite of wishes flies | H |
| And Fate our simple prayer denies | H |
| And bids us death's own hour await | B |
| The auburn locks are mix'd with grey | I |
| The transient roses fade away | I |
| But reason comes at Thirty eight | B |
| - | |
| Her voice the anguish contradicts | J |
| That dying vanity inflicts | J |
| Her hand new pleasures can create | B |
| For us she opens to the view | F |
| Prospects less bright but far more true | F |
| And bids us smile at Thirty eight | B |
| No more shall scandal's breath destroy | K |
| The social converse we enjoy | K |
| With bard or critic tete a tete | L |
| O'er youth's bright blooms her blights shall pour | M |
| But spare the improving friendly hour | N |
| That science gives to Thirty eight | B |
| Stripp'd of their gaudy hues by Truth | O |
| We view the glitt'ring toys of youth | O |
| And blush to think how poor the bait | B |
| For which to public scenes we ran | P |
| And scorn'd of sober sense the plan | P |
| Which gives content at Thirty eight | B |
| Though Time's inexorable sway | I |
| Has torn the myrtle bands away | I |
| For other wreaths 'tis not too late | B |
| The amaranth's purple glow survives | Q |
| And still Minerva's olive lives | R |
| On the calm brow of Thirty eight | B |
| With eye more steady we engage | D |
| To contemplate approaching age | D |
| And life more justly estimate | S |
| With firmer souls and stronger powers | T |
| With reason faith and friendship ours | T |
| We'll not regret the stealing hours | T |
| That lead from Thirty even to Forty eight | B |
Charlotte Smith
(3)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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