The Altar Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABC CDEFG HEIJ KGLGMNOPL QKKGGRKAK GSTAGGUKVIML KAKTRK| My heart is an altar whereon | A |
| Many sacrificial fires have been kindled | B |
| In praise of spring and Aphrodite | C |
| - | |
| My heart is an altar of chalcedony | C |
| Crowned with a tablet of bronze | D |
| Blacked with smoke scarred with fire | E |
| And scented with the aromatic bitterness | F |
| Of dead incense | G |
| - | |
| Albeit let us murmur a little Doric prayer | H |
| Over the ashes which lie scattered around the altar | E |
| For the April rain has wept over them | I |
| And from them the crocus smelts its Roman gold | J |
| - | |
| What though there are remnants here | K |
| Of faded coronals | G |
| And bits of silver string | L |
| Torn from forgotten harps | G |
| Perfect amid the ashes sleeps a cup of amethyst | M |
| Let us take it and pour the sea from it | N |
| And while the savor of dead lips is washed away | O |
| Let us lift our hands to this sky of hyacinth | P |
| Let us light the altar newly for lo it is spring | L |
| - | |
| Bring from the re kindled woodland | Q |
| Flames of columbine jewel weed and trumpet creeper | K |
| There where the woodman burns the fallen tree | K |
| And scented smoke arises | G |
| On azure wings between the branches | G |
| Budding with adolescent life | R |
| With these let us light the altar | K |
| That a scarlet flame may lean | A |
| Against the silver sea | K |
| - | |
| For thou art fire also | G |
| And air and water and the resurgent earth | S |
| For thou art woman thou art love | T |
| Thou art April of the Arcadian moon | A |
| Thou art the swift sun racing through snowy clouds | G |
| Thou art the creative silence of flowering valleys | G |
| Thy face is the apple tree in bloom | U |
| Thine eyes the glimpses of green water | K |
| When the tree's blossoms shake | V |
| As soft winds fan them | I |
| Thy hair is flame blown against the sea's mist | M |
| Thou art spring | L |
| - | |
| The fire on the altar burns brightly | K |
| And the sea sparkles in the sun | A |
| Let us murmur a Doric prayer | K |
| For the gift of love | T |
| For the gift of life | R |
| Oh Life Oh Love We lift our hands to thee | K |
Edgar Lee Masters
(1)
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About The Altar
The Altar is a poem by Edgar Lee Masters. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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