The House Of Dust: Part 02: 02: The Fulfilled Dream Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJAK ALMDNOP QGRSTUVAPIJ WAQXYHZIGQA2NZ TB2AAC2D2MQE2QHF2QG2 H2 I2J2K2L2M2N2O2DP2CPQ L

More towers must yet be built mdash more towers destroyed mdashA
Great rocks hoisted in airB
And he must seek his bread in high pale sunlightC
With gulls about him and clouds just over his eyesD
And so he did not mention his dream of fallingE
But drank his coffee in silence and heard in his earsF
That horrible whistle of wind and felt his breathG
Sucked out of him and saw the tower flash byH
And the small tree swell beneath himI
He patted his boy on the head and kissed his wifeJ
Looked quickly around the room to remember it mdashA
And so went out For once he forgot his pailK
-
Something had changed mdash but it was not the street mdashA
The street was just the same mdash it was himselfL
Puddles flashed in the sun In the pawn shop doorM
The same old black cat winked green amber eyesD
The butcher stood by his window tying his apronN
The same men walked beside him smoking pipesO
Reading the morning paperP
-
He would not yield he thought and walk more slowlyQ
As if he knew for certain he walked to deathG
But with his usual pace mdash deliberate firmR
Looking about him calmly watching the worldS
Taking his ease Yet when he thought againT
Of the same dream now dreamed three separate timesU
Always the same and heard that whistling windV
And saw the windows flashing upward past him mdashA
He slowed his pace a little and thought with horrorP
How monstrously that small tree thrust to meet himI
He slowed his pace a little and remembered his wifeJ
-
Was forty then too old for work like thisW
Why should it be He'd never been afraid mdashA
His eye was sure his hand was steadyQ
But dreams had meaningsX
He walked more slowly and looked along the roofsY
All built by men and saw the pale blue skyH
And suddenly he was dizzy with looking at itZ
It seemed to whirl and swimI
It seemed the color of terror of speed of deathG
He lowered his eyes to the stones he walked more slowlyQ
His thoughts were blown and scattered like leavesA2
He thought of the pail Why then was it forgottenN
Because he would not need itZ
-
Then just as he was grouping his thoughts againT
About that drug store corner under an arc lampB2
Where first he met the girl whom he would marry mdashA
That blue eyed innocent girl in a soft blouse mdashA
He waved his hand for signal and up he wentC2
In the dusty chute that hugged the wallD2
Above the tree from girdered floor to floorM
Above the flattening roofs until the seaQ
Lay wide and waved before him And then he steppedE2
Giddily out from that securityQ
To the red rib of iron against the skyH
And walked along it feeling it sing and trembleF2
And looking down one instant saw the treeQ
Just as he dreamed it was and looked awayG2
And up again feeling his blood go wildH2
-
He gave the signal the long girder swungI2
Closer to him dropped clanging into placeJ2
Almost pushing him off Pneumatic hammersK2
Began their madhouse clatter the white hot rivetsL2
Were tossed from below and deftly caught in pailsM2
He signalled again and wiped his mouth and thoughtN2
A place so high in the air should be more quietO2
The tree far down below teased at his eyesD
Teased at the corners of them until he lookedP2
And felt his body go suddenly small and lightC
Felt his brain float off like a dwindling vaporP
And heard a whistle of wind and saw a treeQ
Come plunging up to him and thought to himselfL
'By God mdash I'm done for now the dream was right '-

Conrad Potter Aiken



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