The Emperor Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEFGEAHEHIJCKEKE JHLMNFEOCPKPE QEEEGEGGRGF GGGGGSJGEG CTELPEENUEVGWGGGJVLE EEVLEDGHHEG D PDMVEHGGNVH GGXDGEGEGYG HVEGEEGD NGI | 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)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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