The Blessed Damozel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEB FGHGIG JKLKJK KKMKKK KNCBKB OPQPRP SKKKTK UVWXYV KKZKA2K B2C2D2C2KC2 E2MKMF2M G2H2RWI2W KQJ2QK2Q L2QG2QQQ M2G2M2G2N2G2 J2KKKKK QG2QG2O2G2 KKKKBK KG2P2G2FG2 Q2R2M2R2S2R2 G2KKKT2K G2G2RG2D2G2 G2G2G2G2G2G2 U2KE2KKKThe blessed damozel leaned out | A |
From the gold bar of heaven | B |
Her eyes were deeper than the depth | C |
Of waters stilled at even | D |
She had three lilies in her hand | E |
And the stars in her hair were seven | B |
- | |
Her robe ungirt from clasp to hem | F |
No wrought flowers did adorn | G |
But a white rose of Mary's gift | H |
For service meetly worn | G |
Her hair that lay along her back | I |
Was yellow like ripe corn | G |
- | |
It seemed she scarce had been a day | J |
One of God's choristers | K |
The wonder was not yet quite gone | L |
From that still look of hers | K |
Albeit to them she left her day | J |
Had counted as ten years | K |
- | |
To one it is ten years of years | K |
Yet now and in this place | K |
Surely she leaned o'er me her hair | M |
Fell all about my face | K |
Nothing the autumn fall of leaves | K |
The whole year sets apace | K |
- | |
It was the rampart of God's house | K |
That she was standing on | N |
By God built over the sheer depth | C |
The which is Space begun | B |
So high that looking downward thence | K |
She scarce could see the sun | B |
- | |
It lies in heaven across the flood | O |
Of ether as a bridge | P |
Beneath the tides of day and night | Q |
With flame and darkness ridge | P |
The void as low as where this earth | R |
Spins like a fretful midge | P |
- | |
Around her lovers newly met | S |
'Mid deathless love's acclaims | K |
Spoke evermore among themselves | K |
Their heart remembered names | K |
And the souls mounting up to God | T |
Went by her like thin flames | K |
- | |
And still she bowed herself and stooped | U |
Out of the circling charm | V |
Until her bosom must have made | W |
The bar she leaned on warm | X |
And the lilies lay as if asleep | Y |
Along her bended arm | V |
- | |
From the fixed place of heaven she saw | K |
Time like a pulse shake fierce | K |
Through all the worlds Her gaze still strove | Z |
Within the gulf to pierce | K |
Its path and now she spoke as when | A2 |
The stars sang in their spheres | K |
- | |
The sun was gone now the curled moon | B2 |
Was like a little feather | C2 |
Fluttering far down the gulf and now | D2 |
She spoke through the still weather | C2 |
Her voice was like the voice the stars | K |
Had when they sang together | C2 |
- | |
Ah sweet Even now in that bird's song | E2 |
Strove not her accents there | M |
Fain to be harkened When those bells | K |
Possessed the midday air | M |
Strove not her steps to reach my side | F2 |
Down all the echoing stair | M |
- | |
I wish that he were come to me | G2 |
For he will come she said | H2 |
Have I not prayed in heaven on earth | R |
Lord Lord has he not prayed | W |
Are not two prayers a perfect strength | I2 |
And shall I feel afraid | W |
- | |
When round his head the aureole clings | K |
And he is clothed in white | Q |
I'll take his hand and go with him | J2 |
To the deep wells of light | Q |
As unto a stream we will step down | K2 |
And bathe there in God's sight | Q |
- | |
We two will stand beside that shrine | L2 |
Occult withheld untrod | Q |
Whose lamps are stirred continually | G2 |
With prayer sent up to God | Q |
And see our old prayers granted melt | Q |
Each like a little cloud | Q |
- | |
We two will lie i' the shadow of | M2 |
That living mystic tree | G2 |
Within those secret growth the Dove | M2 |
Is sometimes felt to be | G2 |
While every leaf that His plumes touch | N2 |
Saith His Name audibly | G2 |
- | |
And I myself will teach to him | J2 |
I myself lying so | K |
The songs I sing here which his voice | K |
Shall pause in hushed and slow | K |
And find some knowledge at each pause | K |
Or some new thing to know | K |
- | |
Alas We two we two thou say'st | Q |
Yea one wast thou with me | G2 |
That once of old But shall God lift | Q |
To endless unity | G2 |
The soul whose likeness with thy soul | O2 |
Was but its love for thee | G2 |
- | |
We two she said will seek the groves | K |
Where the lady Mary is | K |
With her five handmaidens whose names | K |
Are five sweet symphonies | K |
Cecily Gertrude Magdalen | B |
Margaret and Rosalys | K |
- | |
Circlewise sit they with bound locks | K |
And foreheads garlanded | G2 |
Into the fine cloth white like flame | P2 |
Weaving the golden thread | G2 |
To fashion the birth robes for them | F |
Who are just born being dead | G2 |
- | |
He shall fear haply and be dumb | Q2 |
Then will I lay my cheek | R2 |
To his and tell about our love | M2 |
Not once abashed or weak | R2 |
And the dear Mother will approve | S2 |
My pride and let me speak | R2 |
- | |
Herself shall bring us hand in hand | G2 |
To Him round whom all souls | K |
Kneel the clear ranged unnumbered heads | K |
Bowed with their aureoles | K |
And angels meeting us shall sing | T2 |
To their citherns and citoles | K |
- | |
There will I ask of Christ the Lord | G2 |
Thus much for him and me | G2 |
Only to live as once on earth | R |
With Love only to be | G2 |
As then awhile forever now | D2 |
Together I and he | G2 |
- | |
She gazed and listened and then said | G2 |
Less sad of speech than mild | G2 |
All this is when he comes She ceased | G2 |
The light thrilled toward her filled | G2 |
With angels in strong level flight | G2 |
Her eyes prayed and she smil'd | G2 |
- | |
I saw her smile But soon their path | U2 |
Was vague in distant spheres | K |
And then she cast her arms along | E2 |
The golden barriers | K |
And laid her face between her hands | K |
And wept I heard her tears | K |
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
(1)
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