Bird Parliament (translation Of) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEEFFGGHHIIJ JKKLLMMNNOO GGOOOO PPQQOORROOOOOSSTUVVW WOOXXOOOOYYZZA2A2B2B 2QQC2C2ZZZOOJJOOD2D2 OOE2 OOQQQF2F2OOOOG2G2Z OOGGOOZZSZF2F2OOOOOO GGOOZZGGGGOOH2H2GGOO GGF2F2O OOGGOOI2I2J2J2F2F2OO OO OOO ZOOOOQ O ZZOOGG

Once on a time from all the Circles sevenA
Between the steadfast Earth and rolling HeavenA
The Birds of all Note Plumage and DegreeB
That float in Air and roost upon the TreeB
And they that from the Waters snatch their MeatC
And they that scour the Desert with long FeetC
Birds of all Natures known or not to ManD
Flock'd from all Quarters into full DivanD
On no less solemn business than to findE
Or choose a Sultan Khalif of their kindE
For whom if never theirs or lost they pinedE
The Snake had his 'twas said and so the BeastF
His Lion lord and Man had his at leastF
And that the Birds who nearest were the SkiesG
And went apparell'd in its Angel DyesG
Should be without under no better LawH
Than that which lost all other in the MawH
Disperst without a Bond of Union nayI
Or meeting to make each the other's PreyI
This was the Grievance this the solemn ThingJ
On which the scatter'd Commonwealth of WingJ
From all the four Winds flying like to CloudK
That met and blacken'd Heav'n and Thunder loudK
With Sound of whirring Wings and Beaks that clash'dL
Down like a Torrent on the Desert dash'dL
Till by Degrees the Hubbub and Pell mellM
Into some Order and Precedence fellM
And Proclamation made of Silence eachN
In special Accent but in general SpeechN
That all should understand as seem'd him bestO
The Congregation of all Wings addrestO
-
And first with Heart so full as from his EyesG
Ran weeping up rose Tajidar the WiseG
The mystic Mark upon whose Bosom show'dO
That He alone of all the Birds THE ROADO
Had travell'd and the Crown upon his HeadO
Had reach'd the Goal and He stood forth and saidO
-
'O Birds by what Authority divineP
I speak you know by His authentic SignP
And Name emblazon'd on my Breast and BillQ
Whose Counsel I assist at and fulfilQ
At His Behest I measured as he plann'dO
The Spaces of the Air and Sea and LandO
I gauged the secret sources of the SpringsR
From Cloud to Fish the Shadow of my WingsR
Dream'd over sleeping Deluge pilotedO
The Blast that bore Sulayman's Throne and ledO
The Cloud of Birds that canopied his HeadO
Whose Word I brought to Balkis and I sharedO
The Counsel that with Asaf he preparedO
And now you want a Khalif and I knowS
Him and his whereabout and How to goS
And go alone I could and plead your causeT
Alone for all but by the eternal lawsU
Yourselves by Toil and Travel of your ownV
Must for your old Delinquency atoneV
Were you indeed not blinded by the CurseW
Of Self exile that still grows worse and worseW
Yourselves would know that though you see him notO
He is with you this Moment on this SpotO
Your Lord through all Forgetfulness and CrimeX
Here There and Everywhere and through all TimeX
But as a Father whom some wayward ChildO
By sinful Self will has unreconciledO
Waits till the sullen Reprobate at costO
Of long Repentance should regain the LostO
Therefore yourselves to see as you are seenY
Yourselves must bridge the Gulf you made betweenY
By such a Search and Travel to be goneZ
Up to the mighty mountain Kaf whereonZ
Hinges the World and round about whose KneesA2
Into one Ocean mingle the Seven SeasA2
In whose impenetrable Forest foldsB2
Of Light and Dark 'Symurgh' his Presence holdsB2
Not to be reach'd if to be reach'd at allQ
But by a Road the stoutest might apalQ
Of Travel not of Days or Months but YearsC2
Life long perhaps of Dangers Doubts and FearsC2
As yet unheard of Sweat of Blood and BrainZ
Interminable often all in vainZ
And if successful no Return againZ
A Road whose very Preparation scaredO
The Traveller who yet must be preparedO
Who then this Travel to Result would bringJ
Needs both a Lion's Heart beneath the WingJ
And even more a Spirit purifiedO
Of Worldly Passion Malice Lust and PrideO
Yea ev'n of Worldly Wisdom which grows dimD2
And dark the nearer it approaches HimD2
Who to the Spirit's Eye alone reveal'dO
By sacrifice of Wisdom's self unseal'dO
Without which none who reach the Place could bearE2
To look upon the Glory dwelling there '-
-
One Night from out the swarming City GateO
Stept holy Bajazyd to meditateO
Alone amid the breathing Fields that layQ
In solitary Silence leagues awayQ
Beneath a Moon and Stars as bright as DayQ
And the Saint wondering such a Temple wereF2
And so lit up and scarce one worshipperF2
A voice from Heav'n amid the stillness saidO
'The Royal Road is not for all to treadO
Nor is the Royal Palace for the RoutO
Who even if they reach it are shut outO
The Blaze that from my Harem window breaksG2
With fright the Rabble of the Roadside takesG2
And ev'n of those that at my Portal dinZ
Thousands may knock for one that enters in '-
-
Thus spoke the Tajidar and the wing'd CrowdO
That underneath his Word in Silence bow'dO
Clapp'd Acclamation and their Hearts and EyesG
Were kindled by the Firebrand of the WiseG
They felt their Degradation they believedO
The word that told them how to be retrievedO
And in that glorious Consummation wonZ
Forgot the Cost at which it must be doneZ
'They only long'd to follow they would goS
Whither he led through Flood or Fire or Snow'Z
So cried the Multitude But some there wereF2
Who listen'd with a cold disdainful airF2
Content with what they were or grudging CostO
Of Time or Travel that might all be lostO
These one by one came forward and preferr'dO
Unwise Objection which the wiser WordO
Shot with direct Reproof or subtly roundO
With Argument and Allegory woundO
-
The Pheasant first would know by what pretenceG
The Tajidar to that pre eminenceG
Was raised a Bird but for his lofty CrestO
And such the Pheasant had like all the RestO
Who answer'd 'By no Virtue of my ownZ
Suleiman chose me but by His aloneZ
Not by the Gold and Silver of my SighsG
Made mine but the free Largess of his EyesG
Behold the Grace of Allah comes and goesG
As to Itself is good and no one knowsG
Which way it turns in that mysterious CourtO
Not he most finds who furthest travels for'tO
For one may crawl upon his knees Life longH2
And yet may never reach or all go wrongH2
Another just arriving at the PlaceG
He toil'd for and the Door shut in his FaceG
Whereas Another scarcely gone a StrideO
And suddenly Behold he is InsideO
But though the Runner win not he that standsG
No Thorn will turn to Roses in his HandsG
Each one must do his best and all endureF2
And all endeavour hoping but not sureF2
Heav'n its own Umpire is its Bidding doO
And Thou perchance shalt be Sulayman's too '-
One day Shah Mahmud riding with the WindO
A hunting left his Retinue behindO
And coming to a River whose swift CourseG
Doubled back Game and Dog and Man and HorseG
Beheld upon the Shore a little LadO
A fishing very poor and Tatter cladO
He was and weeping as his Heart would breakI2
So the Great Sultan for good humour's sakeI2
Pull'd in his Horse a moment and drew nighJ2
And after making his Salaam ask'd whyJ2
He wept weeping the Sultan said so soreF2
As he had never seen one weep beforeF2
The Boy look'd up and 'O Amir ' he saidO
'Seven of us are at home and Father deadO
And Mother left with scarce a Bit of BreadO
And now since Sunrise have I fish'd and seeO
Caught nothing for our Supper Woe is Me '-
The Sultan lighted from his horse 'Behold '-
Said he 'Good Fortune will not be controll'dO
And since Today yours seems to turn from youO
Suppose we try for once what mine will doO
And we will share alike in all I win '-
So the Shah took and flung his Fortune inZ
The Net which cast by the Great Mahmud's HandO
A hundred glittering Fishes brought to LandO
The Lad look'd up in Wonder Mahmud smiledO
And vaulted into Saddle But the ChildO
Ran after 'Nay Amir but half the HaulQ
Is yours by Bargain' 'Nay Today take all '-
The Sultan cried and shook his Bridle freeO
'But mind Tomorrow All belongs to Me '-
And so rode off Next morning at DivanZ
The Sultan's Mind upon his Bargain ranZ
And being somewhat in a mind for sportO
Sent for the Lad who carried up to CourtO
And marching into Royalty's full BlazeG
With such a Catch of Fish as yesterday'sG
The Sultan call'd and set him by h-

Edward Fitzgerald



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