The House Of Dust: Part 04: 04: Counterpoint: Two Rooms Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDC BEFDF GHIDI JKLML KGNKN OPQMQ JCRDRSSTUT ADVCV| He in the room above grown old and tired | A |
| She in the room below mdash his floor her ceiling mdash | B |
| Pursue their separate dreams He turns his light | C |
| And throws himself on the bed face down in laughter | D |
| She by the window smiles at a starlight night | C |
| - | |
| His watch mdash the same he has heard these cycles of ages mdash | B |
| Wearily chimes at seconds beneath his pillow | E |
| The clock upon her mantelpiece strikes nine | F |
| The night wears on She hears dull steps above her | D |
| The world whirs on New stars come up to shine | F |
| - | |
| His youth mdash far off mdash he sees it brightly walking | G |
| In a golden cloud Wings flashing about it Darkness | H |
| Walls it around with dripping enormous walls | I |
| Old age mdash far off mdash her death mdash what do they matter | D |
| Down the smooth purple night a streaked star falls | I |
| - | |
| She hears slow steps in the street mdash they chime like music | J |
| They climb to her heart they break and flower in beauty | K |
| Along her veins they glisten and ring and burn | L |
| He hears his own slow steps tread down to silence | M |
| Far off they pass He knows they will never return | L |
| - | |
| Far off mdash on a smooth dark road mdash he hears them faintly | K |
| The road like a sombre river quietly flowing | G |
| Moves among murmurous walls A deeper breath | N |
| Swells them to sound he hears his steps more clearly | K |
| And death seems nearer to him or he to death | N |
| - | |
| What's death mdash She smiles The cool stone hurts her elbows | O |
| The last of the rain drops gather and fall from elm boughs | P |
| She sees them glisten and break The arc lamp sings | Q |
| The new leaves dip in the warm wet air and fragrance | M |
| A sparrow whirs to the eaves and shakes his wings | Q |
| - | |
| What's death mdash what's death The spring returns like music | J |
| The trees are like dark lovers who dream in starlight | C |
| The soft grey clouds go over the stars like dreams | R |
| The cool stone wounds her arms to pain to pleasure | D |
| Under the lamp a circle of wet street gleams | R |
| And death seems far away a thing of roses | S |
| A golden portal where golden music closes | S |
| Death seems far away | T |
| And spring returns the countless singing of lovers | U |
| And spring returns to stay | T |
| - | |
| He in the room above grown old and tired | A |
| Flings himself on the bed face down in laughter | D |
| And clenches his hands and remembers and desires to die | V |
| And she by the window smiles at a night of starlight | C |
| The soft grey clouds go slowly across the sky | V |
Conrad Potter Aiken
(1)
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