Almswomen Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFF GGHHIIJJKKLLMMNNOPOQ QRRSSHH TTUUVV| At Quincey's moat the squandering village ends | A |
| And there in the almshouse dwell the dearest friends | A |
| Of all the village two old dames that cling | B |
| As close as any trueloves in the spring | B |
| Long long ago they passed threescore and ten | C |
| And in this doll's house lived together then | C |
| All things they have in common being so poor | D |
| And their one fear Death's shadow at the door | E |
| Each sundown makes them mournful each sunrise | F |
| Brings back the brightness in their failing eyes | F |
| - | |
| How happy go the rich fair weather days | G |
| When on the roadside folk stare in amaze | G |
| At such a honeycomb of fruit and flowers | H |
| As mellows round their threshold what long hours | H |
| They gloat upon their steepling hollyhocks | I |
| Bee's balsams feathery southernwood and stocks | I |
| Fiery dragon's mouths great mallow leaves | J |
| For salves and lemon plants in bushy sheaves | J |
| Shagged Esau's hands with five green finger tips | K |
| Such old sweet names are ever on their lips | K |
| As pleased as little children where these grow | L |
| In cobbled pattens and worn gowns they go | L |
| Proud of their wisdom when on gooseberry shoots | M |
| They stuck eggshells to fright from coming fruits | M |
| The brisk billed rascals pausing still to see | N |
| Their neighbour owls saunter from tree to tree | N |
| Or in the hushing half light mouse the lane | O |
| Long winged and lordly | P |
| But when those hours wane | O |
| Indoors they ponder scared by the harsh storm | Q |
| Whose pelting saracens on the window swarm | Q |
| And listen for the mail to clatter past | R |
| And church clock's deep bay withering on the blast | R |
| They feed the fire that flings a freakish light | S |
| On pictured kings and queens grotesquely bright | S |
| Platters and pitchers faded calendars | H |
| And graceful hour glass trim with lavenders | H |
| - | |
| Many a time they kiss and cry and pray | T |
| That both be summoned in the self same day | T |
| And wiseman linnet tinkling in his cage | U |
| End too with them the friendship of old age | U |
| And all together leave their treasured room | V |
| Some bell like evening when the may's in bloom | V |
Edmund Blunden
(1)
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