At Nice Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDBEFFGGFHIJF KLMEENOOPQFRJLSTFLUF VEQFWXFY FEZA2B2C2D2FKE2F2FG2 AKFH2I2FJ2K2FALGL2G M2M2FFCN2QO2QFEB2FFP 2FNQ2FFFFFVTR2S2QT2U 2LFFFB2MMV2I2FFM2FFW 2FF FX2Y2Z2A3T2B2FFSB3 EB2M2SC3FFFQD3FFFSLE 3F3GB2G3E3FSH3T2I3J3 FLEFG3SK3G3 M2FFE GFL3M3V2FN3FFFJ3O3O3 O3P3FQ3FFFGFLDO3FFXF X2FLFI3FFR2 EO3O3B2O3FFL3R3FFSFL 3N3FO3O3 FFFCE3FO3GFFFFFFFO3Y 2TFS3 E3GO3T3FFFLU3FFL3GO3 L3R2V3O3O3FFD2N3FFO3 FF FEFO3O3FO3O3EO3W3X3F FFY3U2GFY2L3W3Z3XFFF XFA4FE3FFO3Y2O3M2Y2F FFXXFFB4O3FO3Y2M2Y2 N2FE3B4FY2O3XXY2O3O3 T3O3Y2FO3F R3FE3FK2FO3Z3R2FXXFO 3O3FO3XXC4D4O3XEL3FO 3FY2FFY2O3O3XY2L3O3F XY2FEFFXFO3XY2FXT3N3 E FXFEXFX H2E4XY2FEFU3F H2O3H2XXFY2L3Y2O3O3H 2O3D2F FY2XF4FFO3Y2G4XFWF O3FY2O3O3FFY2

Dear let me tell you safe beside you now	A
Your hand in mine here from this peak of sand	B
Under this pine tree where the wild grapes spill	C
Their fragrance on the lake breeze from that oak	D
Half buried in the sand devoured by sand	B
The water of the lake is just as blue	E
As the sea is there at Nice the caps as white	F
As foam around Mont Boron Cap Ferrat	F
Here let me tell you things you do not know	G
I could not write repeat what well you know	G
How love of you sustained me never changed	F
But through a love was brighter flame of the torch	H
I bore for you in battle as an incense	I
Cast in a flame awakes the deeper essence	J
Of fire and makes it mount	F
	-
And I am here	K
Here now with you at last the war is over	L
I have this aching side these languid mornings	M
And pray for that old strength which never knew	E
Fatigue or pain but I am here with you	E
You are my bride now I have earned you dear	N
I fought the fight endured the endless days	O
When rain fell days of absence and the days	O
Of danger when my only prayer was this	P
Give me O God to see you once again	Q
This is the deepest rapture tragedy	F
Of this our life beyond our minds to fathom	R
A thing to stand in awe of touch in reverence	J
That we we mortals find in one another	L
Such source of ecstasy of pain My love	S
I lay there in the hospital so weak	T
Flopping my hands upon the coverlet	F
And praying God to live In such an hour	L
To be away from you There are no words	U
To speak the weary hours of fear and thought	F
In such an absence facing death perhaps	V
A burial in France with thoughts of you	E
Mourning some years perhaps healed partly then	Q
And wedded to another then at last	F
Myself forgot or nearly so and life	W
Taking you on with duties house and children	X
And my poor self forgotten gone to dust	F
Wasted along the soil of France	Y
	-
Thank God	F
I'm here with you it's real all this is true	E
The roar of the water sand hills infinite sky	Z
The gulls the distant smoke the smell of grapes	A2
The haze of amethyst behind us there	B2
In those ravines of stunted oak and pine	C2
All this is real This is America	D2
The very air we find from coast to coast	F
The sensible air for lungs seems freer here	K
I had no sooner landed in New York	E2
Than my arms said stretch out there's room to stretch	F2
I walked along the streets so happy light	F
Of heart and heard the newsboys shop girls talk	G2
O what a cheese he is or beat it now	A
I can't describe the thrill I had to hear	K
This loose abandoned slang spilled all around	F
Like coppers soiled from handling but so real	H2
And having power to purchase memories	I2
Of what I loved and lost awhile my land	F
Well then I wanted roast beef corn on cob	J2
And had them in an hour at early lunch	K2
I telegraphed you gave New York a day	F
And came to you We are together now	A
We do not dream do we We are together	L
After the war to live our lives and grow	G
And make of love experience life more rich	L2
That's what you say to me it shall be so	G
	-
Now I will tell you what I promised to tell	M2
About my illness and the battle well	M2
I wrote you of my illness only hinted	F
About the care I had that is the point	F
'Twas care alone that saved me I was ill	C
Beyond all words to tell And all the while	N2
I suffered fearing I would die but then	Q
I could not bear to think I should not rise	O2
To join my fellows battle once again	Q
And charge across the trenches take no part	F
In crushing down the Prussian For I knew	E
He would be crushed at last I could not bear	B2
To think I should not take a hand in that	F
Be there when he lay fallen victory	F
From voice to voice should pass along the lines	P2
Well for some weeks I lay there and at last	F
Words dropped around me that the time was near	N
For blows to count would I be there to strike	Q2
Could I get well in time And every day	F
A sweet voice said You're better oh it's great	F
How you are growing stronger yesterday	F
Your fever was but one degree to day	F
It is a little higher You must rest	F
Not think so much It may be normal perhaps	V
To morrow or the next day In a week	T
You will be up and gaining and the battle	R2
Will not be fought before then I am sure	S2
And not until you're well and strong again	Q
And thus it went from day to day Such hands	T2
Washed my hot face and bathed me tucked me in	U2
And fed me too And once I said to her	L
I love a girl I must get well to fight	F
I must get well to go to her And she	F
It was the nurse I spoke to took my hand	F
And turned away with tears You see it's there	B2
We see the big things nothing else the things	M
That stand out like the mountains lesser things	M
Are lost like little hillocks under the shadows	V2
Of great emotions hopes realities	I2
Well so it went And on a day she leaned	F
Above my face to smooth the pillow out	F
And from her heart a golden locket fell	M2
And dangled by the silver chain The locket	F
Flew open and I saw a face within it	F
That is I saw there was a face but saw	W2
No eyes or hair saw nothing to limn out	F
The face so I would know it	F
	-
Then I said	F
You have a lover nurse She straightened up	X2
And questioned me Have you been ill before	Y2
Do you know of the care a nurse can give	Z2
And what she can withhold I answered Yes	A3
And then she asked Have you felt in my hands	T2
Great tenderness solicitude even prayer	B2
Here sweetheart do not let your eyes get moist	F
I'll tell you everything for you must see	F
How spirits work together love to love	S
Passes and does its work	B3
	-
Well it was true	E
I felt her tenderness which was like prayer	B2
And so I answered her If I get well	M2
You will have cured me with your human love	S
And then she said Our unit reached this place	C3
When there was neither stoves nor lights At night	F
We went to bed by candles Stumbled around	F
Amid the trunks and beds by candle light	F
Well one of us would light a candle then	Q
Each one by one the others lighted theirs	D3
From this one down the room And so we passed	F
The light along And as a candle died	F
The others burned to which the light was passed	F
Well now she said that is a figure of love	S
We get the flame from someone light another	L
Make brighter light by holding flame to flame	E3
Sometimes we searched for something held two candles	F3
Together for a greater light And so	G
My soldier I have given you the care	B2
That comes from love of country and the cause	G3
But brightened warmed by one from whom the flame	E3
Was passed to me a love that took my hand	F
And warmed it made it tender for that love	S
Which said pour out and serve take love for him	H3
And use it in the cause by using hands	T2
To bathe to soothe to smooth a pillow down	I3
To heal sustain	J3
	-
The truth is dearest heart	F
I had not lived I think except for her	L
And there we were I filled with love for you	E
And therefore praying to get well and fight	F
Be worthy of your love and there she was	G3
With love for someone striving with that love	S
To nurse me through and give me well and strong	K3
To battle in the cause	G3
	-
Then I got well	M2
And joined my company She took my hand	F
As I departed closed her eyes and said	F
May God be with you	E
	-
Well it was Belleau	G
That jungle of machine guns like a thicket	F
Of rattle snakes And there was just one thing	L3
To clean that thicket out we had to charge	M3
And so we yelled and charged No soldier knows	V2
How one survives in such a charge as that	F
You simply yell and charge the bullets fall	N3
Like drops of rain around you pitter pat	F
And on you go and think where will it get me	F
The stomach or the heart or through the head	F
What will it be like sudden blackness pain	J3
No pain at all And so you charge the nests	O3
The fellows fell around us like tenpins	O3
Dropped guns or flung them up fell on their faces	O3
Or toppled backward pitched ahead and flung	P3
Their helmets off in pitching And at last	F
I found myself half dazed as in a dream	Q3
Right in a nest two Boches facing me	F
And then I saw this locket as I saw it	F
Fall from her breast it might have been a glint	F
Of metal flash of firing I don't know	G
I only know I ran my bayonet	F
Through one of them he fell I stuck the other	L
Then something stung my side When I awoke	D
I lay upon a cot and heard the nurses	O3
Discuss the peace the armistice was signed	F
The war was over Well and in a way	F
We won the war I won the war as one	X
Who did his part at least	F
	-
Then I got up	X2
But I was weak and dazed They said to me	F
I should not cross the ocean in the winter	L
My lungs might get infected anyway	F
The flu was raging So they sent me down	I3
To Nice upon a furlough as I wrote	F
I could not write you all I saw and heard	F
It was all lovely and all memorable	R2
	-
But first before I picture Nice to you	E
My days at Nice lest you have doubts and fears	O3
When I reveal to you I saw this nurse	O3
First on the Promenade des Anglais there	B2
Saw much of her in Nice I saw at once	O3
She was that Elenor Murray whom they found	F
Along the river dead and for the rest	F
To make all clear I'll tell you everything	L3
You see I didn't write you of this girl	R3
And what we did there lest you might suspect	F
Some vagrant mood in me concealed or glossed	F
Which ended in betrayal of our love	S
Eyes should look into eyes to supplement	F
The words of truth with light of truth where nothing	L3
Of thoughts that hide have chance to slip and crawl	N3
Through eyes averted twinklings change of light	F
Or if they do reveal themselves as snakes	O3
Are seen when winding into coverts of grass	O3
	-
Well then we met upon the promenade	F
She ran toward me kissed me oh so glad	F
I told her of the battle of my wound	F
And for herself it seemed she had been ill	C
Off duty for a month before she came	E3
To Nice for health she said as much to me	F
I think she had been ill yet I could sense	O3
Or seemed to sense a mystery I don't know	G
Behind her illness Yet you understand	F
How it was natural we should be happy	F
To meet again in Nice too For you see	F
The army life develops comradeship	F
And when we meet the old life rises up	F
And wakes its thrills and memories It seemed	F
She had been there some days when I arrived	F
And knew the place and said I'll show you Nice	O3
There was a major she was waiting for	Y2
As it turned out He came there in a week	T
We had some walks together all the three	F
And then I lost them	S3
	-
But before he came	E3
We did the bright caf s and Monte Carlo	G
And here my little nurse showed something else	O3
Besides the tender hands the prayerful soul	T3
She had been taking egg nogs so she said	F
But now she took to wine and drink she could	F
Beyond all men I know I had to stop	F
Or fall beneath the table leaving her	L
To order more And she would sit and weave	U3
From right to left hip in a rhythmic way	F
And cast her eyes obliquely right and left	F
It was this way The music set her thrilling	L3
And keeping time this way She loved to go	G
Where we could see cocotes adventurers	O3
Where red vitality was feasting drinking	L3
And dropping gold upon the gaming table	R2
We sunned ourselves within the Jardin Public	V3
And walked the beach between the bathing places	O3
Where they dry orange peel to make perfumes	O3
And in that golden sunshine by the sea	F
Caught whiffs of lemon blossoms and each day	F
I bought her at the stands acacia	D2
Or red anemones I tell you all	N3
There was no moment that my thought betrayed	F
Your heart dear one She had been good to me	F
I saw that she was hungry for these things	O3
For rapture so I gave them you don't mind	F
It came to nothing dearest	F
	-
But at last	F
A different Elenor Murray than I knew	E
There in the hospital took shape before me	F
That serving soul that maid of humble tasks	O3
And sacrifice for others and that face	O3
Of waitress or of ingenue day by day	F
Assumed sophistication looks and lines	O3
Of knowledge in the world experience	O3
in places of patrician ways She knew	E
New York as well as I caf s and shops	O3
Dropped pregnant hints at times that made me think	W3
What more she knew what she was holding back	X3
Until at last all she had done for me	F
Seemed just what mortals do to earn their bread	F
In any calling made more generous maybe	F
By something in a moment's mood In truth	Y3
The ideal showed the clogged pores in the skin	U2
Under the light she stood in For you know	G
When we see people happy we can say	F
Those tears were not all tears we pitied more	Y2
Than we were wise to pity that's the feeling	L3
Most men are Puritans in this I think	W3
A woman dancing drinking makes you laugh	Z3
And half despise yourself for great emotion	X
When seeing her in prayer or reverent thought	F
But now I come to something more concrete	F
The day before the major came we lunched	F
Where we could see the Mediterranean	X
The clubs hotels and villas There she sat	F
All dressed in white a knitted jacket of silk	A4
Matching the leaves upon the trees and looked	F
As fashionable as the rest The waiter came	E3
She did not take the card nor order from it	F
Was nonchalant familiar said at last	F
We want some Epernay You have it doubtless	O3
The waiter bowed I looked at Elenor	Y2
That was the character of revealing things	O3
I saw from day to day For truth to tell	M2
This Epernay might well have been charged water	Y2
For all I knew I asked her and she said	F
Delicious wine not strong And so we lunched	F
And the music stormed and lunchers gabbled smoked	F
And dandies ogled And this Epernay	X
Worked in our blood and Elenor rattled on	X
And she was flinging eyes from right to left	F
And moving rhythmically from hip to hip	F
And with a finger beating out the time	B4
Somehow our hands touched then she closed her eyes	O3
Her body shook a little and grew limp	F
What is the matter Then she raised her eyes	O3
And looked me through an instant What my dear	Y2
You won't hear any more Oh very well	M2
That's all there is no more	Y2
	-
But after while	N2
When things got quieter the lunchers thinned	F
The music ended and the wine grown tame	E3
Within our veins she told me on a time	B4
Some years before she was confirmed and thought	F
She'd take the veil and for two years or more	Y2
Was all absorbed in pious thoughts and works	O3
But how we learn and change she added then	X
In training we see bodies learn to know	X
How thirst and hunger needs of body cry	Y2
For daily care become materialists	O3
Unmoralists a little in the sense	O3
That any book or theories of the soul	T3
Should tie the body from its natural needs	O3
Though I accept the faith no less than ever	Y2
That God is and the Savior is and spirit	F
Is no less real than body has its needs	O3
Separate or through the body	F
	-
Oh that girl	R3
She made me guess and wonder But next day	F
I had a fresh surprise the major came	E3
And she was changed completely I forgot	F
I must tell you what happened after lunch	K2
We rose and she grew impish stood and laughed	F
As if the secret of the laugh was hers	O3
Beyond the concrete matter of the laugh	Z3
She said I'll show you something beautiful	R2
We started out to see it walked the road	F
Around the foot of Castle Hill You know	X
The wind blows gustily at Nice and so	X
All of a sudden went my hat way up	F
Far off and instantly such laughter rose	O3
And boisterous shouts that made me think at once	O3
I had been tricked somehow It is this way	F
The gamins loiter there to watch the victims	O3
Who lose their hats And Elenor sat down	X
And laughed until she cried I do not know	X
Perhaps I was not amorous enough	C4
At luncheon and she pranked me for revenge	D4
Well then the major came he took my place	O3
I was the third one in the party now	X
But saw them every day What did we do	E
No Monte Carlo now nor ordering	L3
Without the card she was completely changed	F
Demure again all words of lovely things	O3
The war had changed the world had lifted up	F
The spirit of man to visions and the major	Y2
Adored her drank it in And we explored	F
Limpia and the Old Town looked aloft	F
At Mont Cau d'Aspremont picked hellebore	Y2
And orchids in the gorges saw St Pons	O3
The Valley of Hepaticas sunned ourselves	O3
Within the Jardin Public where the children	X
Play riotously and Elenor would draw	Y2
A straying child to her and say You darling	L3
I saw her do this once and dry her eyes	O3
And to the major say They are so lovely	F
I had to give up teaching school the children	X
Stirred my emotions till I could not bear	Y2
To be among them And to make an end	F
I spent the parts of three days with these two	E
And on the last day we went to the summit	F
Of the Corinche Road and saw the sea and Europe	F
Spread out before us oh you cannot know	X
The beauty of it dear until you see it	F
And Elenor sat down as in a trance	O3
And looked and did not speak for minutes Then	X
She said How pure a place this is it's nature	Y2
And I can worship here this makes you hate	F
The caf s and the pleasures of the town	X
What was this woman dear what was her soul	T3
Or was she half and half Oh after all	N3
I am a hostile mixture so are you	E
	-
And so I drifted out and only stayed	F
A day or two beyond that afternoon	X
I took a last walk on the Promenade	F
At last saw just ahead of me these two	E
His arm was fast in hers they sauntered on	X
As if in serious talk As I came up	F
I greeted them and said good bye again	X
	-
Where is the major Did the major steal	H2
The heart of Elenor Murray speed her death	E4
They could have married Why did she return	X
Or did the major follow her Well dear	Y2
Here is the story truthful to a fault	F
My soul is yours I kept it true to you	E
Hear how the waters roar upon the sand	F
I close my eyes and almost can believe	U3
We are together on the Corniche Road	F
	-
	-
	-
Well it may never be that Merival	H2
Heard from Bernard of Elenor at Nice	O3
Although he knew it sometime knew as well	H2
Her service in the war had nerved the men	X
And by that much had put the Germans down	X
America at the fateful moment lent	F
Her strength to bring the war's end Elenor	Y2
Was one of many to cross seas and bring	L3
Life strength against the emperor once secure	Y2
And throned in power against such phagocytes	O3
As Elenor Murray Bernard even kings	O3
And sawing wood at Amerongen all	H2
He thought of was of brains and monstrous hearts	O3
Which sent the phagocytes from America	D2
England and France to eat him up at last	F
	-
One day an American soldier so 'tis said	F
Someone told Merival was walking near	Y2
The house at Amerongen saw a man	X
With drooped mustache and whitened beard approach	F4
Two mastiffs walked beside him As he passed	F
Unrecognized the soldier to a mate	F
Spoke up and said What hellish dogs are those	O3
Like Bismarck used to have I saw a picture	Y2
Of Bismarck with his dogs The drooped mustache	G4
Turned nervously and took the soldiers in	X
Then strode ahead The emperor was stunned	F
To hear an American soldier use a knife	W
As sharp as that	F
	-
But Elenor at Nice	O3
Walked with the major as Bernard has told	F
And this is wrinkled water dark and far	Y2
From Merival unknown to him He hears	O3
And this alone she went from Nice to Florence	O3
Was ill there in a convent we shall see	F
This is the tale that Irma Leese related	F
To Coroner Merival in a leisure hour	Y2

Edgar Lee Masters

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