What Were They Like? Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHI BJKHLDMNOEPQCRSTUVWX YZ| Did the people of Viet Nam | A |
| use lanterns of stone | B |
| Did they hold ceremonies | C |
| to reverence the opening of buds | D |
| Were they inclined to quiet laughter | E |
| Did they use bone and ivory | F |
| jade and silver for ornament | G |
| Had they an epic poem | H |
| Did they distinguish between speech and singing | I |
| - | |
| Sir their light hearts turned to stone | B |
| It is not remembered whether in gardens | J |
| stone gardens illumined pleasant ways | K |
| Perhaps they gathered once to delight in blossom | H |
| but after their children were killed | L |
| there were no more buds | D |
| Sir laughter is bitter to the burned mouth | M |
| A dream ago perhaps Ornament is for joy | N |
| All the bones were charred | O |
| it is not remembered Remember | E |
| most were peasants their life | P |
| was in rice and bamboo | Q |
| When peaceful clouds were reflected in the paddies | C |
| and the water buffalo stepped surely along terraces | R |
| maybe fathers told their sons old tales | S |
| When bombs smashed those mirrors | T |
| there was time only to scream | U |
| There is an echo yet | V |
| of their speech which was like a song | W |
| It was reported their singing resembled | X |
| the flight of moths in moonlight | Y |
| Who can say It is silent now | Z |
Denise Levertov
(4)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About What Were They Like?
What Were They Like? is a poem by Denise Levertov. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about What Were They Like? poem by Denise Levertov
Best Poems of Denise Levertov