Ikon: The Harrowing Of Hell Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIHJKFBHLMNOC JHPQQRSTQUVWXYBZIA2| Down through the tomb's inward arch | A |
| He has shouldered out into Limbo | B |
| to gather them dazed from dreamless slumber | C |
| the merciful dead the prophets | D |
| the innocents just His own age and those | E |
| unnumbered others waiting here | F |
| unaware in an endless void He is ending | G |
| now stooping to tug at their hands | H |
| to pull them from their sarcophagi | I |
| dazzled almost unwilling Didmas | H |
| neighbor in death Golgotha dust | J |
| still streaked on the dried sweat of his body | K |
| no one had washed and anointed is here | F |
| for sequence is not known in Limbo | B |
| the promise given from cross to cross | H |
| at noon arches beyond sunset and dawn | L |
| All these He will swiftly lead | M |
| to the Paradise road they are safe | N |
| That done there must take place that struggle | O |
| no human presumes to picture | C |
| living dying descending to rescue the just | J |
| from shadow were lesser travails | H |
| than this to break | P |
| through earth and stone of the faithless world | Q |
| back to the cold sepulchre tearstained | Q |
| stifling shroud to break from them | R |
| back into breath and heartbeat and walk | S |
| the world again closed into days and weeks again | T |
| wounds of His anguish open and Spirit | Q |
| streaming through every cell of flesh | U |
| so that if mortal sight could bear | V |
| to perceive it it would be seen | W |
| His mortal flesh was lit from within now | X |
| and aching for home He must return | Y |
| first in Divine patience and know | B |
| hunger again and give | Z |
| to humble friends the joy | I |
| of giving Him food fish and a honeycomb | A2 |
Denise Levertov
(1)
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About Ikon: The Harrowing Of Hell
Ikon: The Harrowing Of Hell is a poem by Denise Levertov. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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