A Child Asleep Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABB CBCBB ADADE EFEAA CGCGG BHBIH EEEEE EJEJJ KLMNL OPOPP BQBQQ RPRPPHow he sleepeth having drunken | A |
Weary childhood's mandragore | B |
From his pretty eyes have sunken | A |
Pleasures to make room for more | B |
Sleeping near the withered nosegay which he pulled the day before | B |
- | |
Nosegays leave them for the waking | C |
Throw them earthward where they grew | B |
Dim are such beside the breaking | C |
Amaranths he looks unto | B |
Folded eyes see brighter colours than the open ever do | B |
- | |
Heaven flowers rayed by shadows golden | A |
From the paths they sprang beneath | D |
Now perhaps divinely holden | A |
Swing against him in a wreath | D |
We may think so from the quickening of his bloom and of his breath | E |
- | |
Vision unto vision calleth | E |
While the young child dreameth on | F |
Fair O dreamer thee befalleth | E |
With the glory thou hast won | A |
Darker wert thou in the garden yestermorn by summer sun | A |
- | |
We should see the spirits ringing | C |
Round thee were the clouds away | G |
'Tis the child heart draws them singing | C |
In the silent seeming clay | G |
Singing Stars that seem the mutest go in music all the way | G |
- | |
As the moths around a taper | B |
As the bees around a rose | H |
As the gnats around a vapour | B |
So the Spirits group and close | I |
Round about a holy childhood as if drinking its repose | H |
- | |
Shapes of brightness overlean thee | E |
Flash their diadems of youth | E |
On the ringlets which half screen thee | E |
While thou smilest not in sooth | E |
Thy smile but the overfair one dropt from some aethereal mouth | E |
- | |
Haply it is angels' duty | E |
During slumber shade by shade | J |
To fine down this childish beauty | E |
To the thing it must be made | J |
Ere the world shall bring it praises or the tomb shall see it fade | J |
- | |
Softly softly make no noises | K |
Now he lieth dead and dumb | L |
Now he hears the angels' voices | M |
Folding silence in the room | N |
Now he muses deep the meaning of the Heaven words as they come | L |
- | |
Speak not he is consecrated | O |
Breathe no breath across his eyes | P |
Lifted up and separated | O |
On the hand of God he lies | P |
In a sweetness beyond touching held in cloistral sanctities | P |
- | |
Could ye bless him father mother | B |
Bless the dimple in his cheek | Q |
Dare ye look at one another | B |
And the benediction speak | Q |
Would ye not break out in weeping and confess yourselves too weak | Q |
- | |
He is harmless ye are sinful | R |
Ye are troubled he at ease | P |
From his slumber virtue winful | R |
Floweth outward with increase | P |
Dare not bless him but be blessed by his peace and go in peace | P |
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
(1)
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