The Emperor Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEFGEAHEHIJCKEKE JHLMNFEOCPKPE QEEEGEGGRGF GGGGGSJGEG CTELPEENUEVGWGGGJVLE EEVLEDGHHEG D PDMVEHGGNVH GGXDGEGEGYG HVEGEEGD NG| I | A |
| - | |
| the emperor | B |
| sleeps in a palace of porphyry | C |
| which was a million years building | D |
| he takes the air in a howdah | E |
| of jasper beneath saffron | F |
| umbrellas | G |
| upon an elephant | E |
| twelve foot high | A |
| behind whose ear | H |
| sits always a crowned | E |
| king twir | H |
| ling an | I |
| ankus of | J |
| ebony | C |
| the fountains of the emperor's | K |
| palace run sunlight and | E |
| moonlight and the emperor's | K |
| elephant is a thousand years old | E |
| - | |
| the harem of | J |
| the emperor | H |
| is carpeted with | L |
| gold cloth | M |
| from the | N |
| ceiling one | F |
| diamond timid | E |
| with nesting incense | O |
| fifty | C |
| marble | P |
| pillars | K |
| slipped from immeasurable | P |
| height fall fifty silent | E |
| - | |
| in the incense is tangled a cool moon | Q |
| there are thrice three hundred | E |
| doors carven of chalcedony and | E |
| before every door a naked | E |
| eunuch watches | G |
| on their heads turbans of a hundred | E |
| colours | G |
| in their hands scimitars like windy torches | G |
| each | R |
| is | G |
| blacker than oblivion | F |
| - | |
| the ladies | G |
| of the emperor's | G |
| harem are queens | G |
| of all the earth and the rings | G |
| upon their hands are from mines | G |
| a mile deep | S |
| but the body of | J |
| the queen of queens is | G |
| more transparent | E |
| than water she is softer than birds | G |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| when the emperor is very | C |
| amorous he reclines upon | T |
| the couch of couches and | E |
| beckons with | L |
| the little | P |
| finger of his left | E |
| hand | E |
| then the | N |
| thrice three hundredth | U |
| door is opened by the tallest | E |
| eunuch and the queen | V |
| of queens comes | G |
| forth | W |
| ankles | G |
| musical with large pearls | G |
| kingdoms in her ears | G |
| at the feet of | J |
| the emperor a cithern | V |
| player squats with | L |
| quiveringgold | E |
| body | E |
| behind | E |
| the emperor ten | V |
| elected warriors with | L |
| bodies of lazy jade | E |
| and twitching | D |
| eyelids | G |
| finger | H |
| their | H |
| unquiet | E |
| spears | G |
| - | |
| the queen of queens is dancing | D |
| - | |
| her subtle | P |
| body weaving | D |
| insinuating upon the gold cloth | M |
| incessantly creates patterns of sudden | V |
| lust | E |
| her | H |
| stealing body ex | G |
| pending gathering pouring upon itself stiffenS | G |
| to a | N |
| white thorn | V |
| of desire | H |
| - | |
| the taut neck of the citharede wags | G |
| in the dust the ghastly warriors | G |
| amber with lust breathe | X |
| together the emperor exerting | D |
| himself among his pillows throws | G |
| jewels at the queen of queens and | E |
| white money upon her nakedness | G |
| he | E |
| nods | G |
| and all | Y |
| depart through the bruised air aflutter with pearls | G |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| they are | H |
| alone | V |
| he beckons she rises she | E |
| stands | G |
| a moment | E |
| in the passion of the fifty | E |
| pillars | G |
| listening | D |
| - | |
| while the queens of all the | N |
| earth writhe upon deep rugs | G |
E. E. Cummings
(1)
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About The Emperor
The Emperor is a poem by E. E. Cummings. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.