Maurine Part Iii Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAC DBEDEFGGF HHIIJJKLLFF KMNNMOPOPQQRR SOSOTTUUVWXXYYZHZH A2B2B2A2C2D2E2E2D2OY C2YOF2F2B2 G2G2H2I2I2H2FFJ2 K2K2XL2C2C2L2XD2M2N2 D2 DDO2O2FFP2P2Q2Q2R2S2 T2T2U2U2 EV2V2EW2X2W2X2WWK2K2 R2S2TTDH2H2Y2DZ2YY2 FFA3B3GGC3C3D3D3 E3YYF3G3H3E3G3AD2H3G 3K2I3I3W2W2G3G3J3OOE 2E2J3 E2E2K3E2E2 E2E2L3L3E2E2 E2E2M3M3E2E2 E2E2K3K3E2E2 E2E2N3N3E2E2 L2L2E2E2O3O3AP3CCG3G 3Q3E2Q3OOZE2C2C2AR3P 3R3H S3S3HT3T3OLE2LOYY E2H2E2E2H2GC2E2E2C2E 2 CCU3ZU3ZJ2J2V3V3 E2E2E2E2OOYY W3W3E2E2 HHGE2E2N3N3OOE2G3G3W 2W2 J3X3X3E2E2J3O3E2E2E2 O3E2Y3Y3P3P3 E2GE2X3X3E2Z3HZ3 CCI3I3CCG3G3A4A4 OOE2E2E2E2CCY2E2Y2E2 B4G3B4G3E2E2E2E2X3 F2F2AAR3P3R3R3R3E2E2 E2E2E2E2CCE2V3E2V3E2 E2 CE2CRRE2E2E2 R3R3G3R3E2G3E2R3C4D3 CCR3R3E2E2C4D3D3C2C2 E2OR3OR3E2E2E2E2E2R3 D4R3R3D4R3P3P3E2E2CE 4E4CCQQG3CR3G3R3E2J2 J2C2C2E2R3R3 R3ZD3OOF4F4R3E2E2G4G 4 R3R3GGC2C2E2E2E2E2S2 R2R2G3E2G3 R2P3AR2OOE2E2SSE2E2C CE2R3E2R3R3H4H4R3R2R 3R3R2ZZI4J4CCE2K4 E2L4E2E2CCR3R3E2E2AG 4R3R3J4R3I4 D4D4E2E2

One golden twelfth part of a checkered yearA
One summer month of sunlight moonlight mirthB
With not a hint of shadows lurking nearA
Or storm clouds brewingC
-
'T was a royal dayD
Voluptuous July held her lover EarthB
With her warm arms upon her glowing breastE
And twined herself about him as he layD
Smiling and panting in his dream stirred restE
She bound him with her limbs of perfect graceF
And hid him with her trailing robe of greenG
And wound him in her long hair's shimmering sheenG
And rained her ardent kisses on his faceF
-
Through the glad glory of the summer landH
Helen and I went wandering hand in handH
In winding paths hard by the ripe wheat fieldI
White with the promise of a bounteous yieldI
Across the late shorn meadow down the hillJ
Red with the tiger lily blossoms tillJ
We stood upon the borders of the lakeK
That like a pretty placid infant sleptL
Low at its base and little ripples creptL
Along its surface just as dimples chaseF
Each other o'er an infant's sleeping faceF
-
Helen in idle hours had learned to makeK
A thousand pretty feminine knick knacksM
For brackets ottomans and toilet standsN
Labor just suited to her dainty handsN
That morning she had been at work in waxM
Molding a wreath of flowers for my roomO
Taking her patterns from the living blowsP
In all their dewy beauty and sweet bloomO
Fresh from my garden Fuchsia tulip roseP
And trailing ivy grew beneath her touchQ
Resembling the living plants as muchQ
As life is copied in the form of deathR
These lacking but the perfume and that breathR
-
And now the wreath was all completed saveS
The mermaid blossom of all flowerdomO
A water lily dripping from the waveS
And 'twas in search of it that we had comeO
Down to the lake and wandered on the beachT
To see if any lilies grew in reachT
Some broken stalks where flowers late had beenU
Some buds with all their beauties folded inU
We found but not the treasure that we soughtV
And then we turned our footsteps to the spotW
Where all impatient of its chain my boatX
The Swan rocked asking to be set afloatX
It was a dainty row boat strong yet lightY
Each side a swan was painted snowy whiteY
A present from my uncle just beforeZ
He sailed with Death to that mysterious strandH
Where freighted ships go sailing evermoreZ
But none return to tell us of the landH
-
I freed the Swan and slowly rowed aboutA2
Wherever sea weeds grass or green leaves liftedB2
Their tips above the water So we driftedB2
While Helen opposite leaned idly outA2
And watched for lilies in the waves belowC2
And softly crooned some sweet and dreamy airD2
That soothed me like a mother's lullabiesE2
I dropped the oars and closed my sun kissed eyesE2
And let the boat go drifting here and thereD2
Oh happy day the last of that brief timeO
Of thoughtless youth when all the world seems brightY
Ere that disguis d angel men call WoeC2
Leads the sad heart through valleys dark as nightY
Up to the heights exalted and sublimeO
On each blest happy moment I am fainF2
To linger long ere I pass on to painF2
And sorrow that succeededB2
-
From day dreamsG2
As golden as the summer noontide's beamsG2
I was awakened by a voice that criedH2
Strange ship ahoy Fair frigate whither boundI2
And starting up I cast my gaze aroundI2
And saw a sail boat o'er the water glideH2
Close to the Swan like some live thing of graceF
And from it looked the glowing handsome faceF
Of VivianJ2
-
Beauteous sirens of the seaK2
Come sail across the raging main with meK2
He laughed and leaning drew our drifting boatX
Beside his own There now step in he saidL2
I'll land you anywhere you want to goC2
My boat is safer far than yours I knowC2
And much more pleasant with its sails all spreadL2
The Swan We'll take the oars and let it floatX
Ashore at leisure You Maurine sit thereD2
Miss Helen here Ye gods and little fishesM2
I've reached the height of pleasure and my wishesN2
Adieu despondency farewell to careD2
-
'T was done so quickly that was Vivian's wayD
He did not wait for either yea or nayD
He gave commands and left you with no choiceO2
But just to do the bidding of his voiceO2
His rare kind smile low tones and manly faceF
Lent to his quick imperiousness a graceF
And winning charm completely stripping itP2
Of what might otherwise have seemed unfitP2
Leaving no trace of tyranny but justQ2
That nameless force that seemed to say You mustQ2
Suiting its pretty title of The DawnR2
So named he said that it might rhyme with SwanS2
Vivian's sail boat was carpeted with blueT2
While all its sails were of a pale rose hueT2
The daintiest craft that flirted with the breezeU2
A poet's fancy in an hour of easeU2
-
Whatever Vivian had was of the bestE
His room was like some Sultan's in the EastV2
His board was always spread as for a feastV2
Whereat each meal he was both host and guestE
He would go hungry sooner than he'd dineW2
At his own table if 'twere illy setX2
He so loved things artistic in designW2
Order and beauty all about him YetX2
So kind he was if it befell his lotW
To dine within the humble peasant's cotW
He made it seem his native soil to beK2
And thus displayed the true gentilityK2
-
Under the rosy banners of the DawnR2
Around the lake we drifted on and onS2
It was a time for dreams and not for speechT
And so we floated on in silence eachT
Weaving the fancies suiting such a dayD
Helen leaned idly o'er the sail boat's sideH2
And dipped her rosy fingers in the tideH2
And I among the cushions half reclinedY2
Half sat and watched the fleecy clouds at playD
While Vivian with his blank book oppositeZ2
In which he seemed to either sketch or writeY
Was lost in inspiration of some kindY2
-
No time no change no scene can e'er effaceF
My mind's impression of that hour and placeF
It stands out like a picture O'er the yearsA3
Black with their robes of sorrow veiled with tearsB3
Lying with all their lengthened shapes betweenG
Untouched undimmed I still behold that sceneG
Just as the last of Indian summer daysC3
Replete with sunlight crowned with amber hazeC3
Followed by dark and desolate DecemberD3
Through all the months of winter we rememberD3
-
The sun slipped westward That peculiar changeE3
Which creeps into the air and speaks of nightY
While yet the day is full of golden lightY
We felt steal o'er usF3
Vivian broke the spellG3
Of dream fraught silence throwing down his bookH3
Young ladies please allow me to arrangeE3
These wraps about your shoulders I know wellG3
The fickle nature of our atmosphereA
Her smile swift followed by a frown or tearD2
And go prepared for changes Now you lookH3
Like like oh where's a pretty simileG3
Had you a pocket mirror here you'd seeK2
How well my native talent is displayedI3
In shawling you Red on the brunette maidI3
Blue on the blonde and quite without designW2
Oh where is that comparison of mineW2
Well like a June rose and a violet blueG3
In one bouquet I fancy that will doG3
And now I crave your patience and a boonJ3
Which is to listen while I read my rhymeO
A floating fancy of the summer timeO
'Tis neither witty wonderful nor wiseE2
So listen kindly but don't criticiseE2
My maiden effort of the afternoonJ3
-
If all the ships I have at seaE2
Should come a sailing home to meE2
Ah well the harbor could not holdK3
So many sails as there would beE2
If all my ships came in from seaE2
-
If half my ships came home from seaE2
And brought their precious freight to meE2
Ah well I should have wealth as greatL3
As any king who sits in stateL3
So rich the treasures that would beE2
In half my ships now out at seaE2
-
If just one ship I have at seaE2
Should come a sailing home to meE2
Ah well the storm clouds then might frownM3
For if the others all went downM3
Still rich and proud and glad I'd beE2
If that one ship came back to meE2
-
If that one ship went down at seaE2
And all the others came to meE2
Weighed down with gems and wealth untoldK3
With glory honor riches goldK3
The poorest soul on earth I'd beE2
If that one ship came not to meE2
-
O skies be calm O winds blow freeE2
Blow all my ships safe home to meE2
But if thou sendest some a wrackN3
To never more come sailing backN3
Send any all that skim the seaE2
But bring my love ship home to meE2
-
Helen was leaning by me and her headL2
Rested against my shoulder as he readL2
I stroked her hair and watched the fleecy skiesE2
And when he finished did not turn my eyesE2
I felt too happy and too shy to meetO3
His gaze just then I said 'Tis very sweetO3
And suits the day does it not Helen dearA
But Helen voiceless did not seem to hearP3
'Tis strange I added how you poets singC
So feelingly about the very thingC
You care not for and dress up an idealG3
So well it looks a living breathing realG3
Now to a listener your love song seemedQ3
A heart's out pouring yet I've heard you sayE2
Almost the opposite or that you deemedQ3
Position honor glory power fameO
Gained without loss of conscience or good nameO
The things to live forZ
Have you Well you mayE2
Laughed Vivian but 'twas years or months agoC2
And Solomon says wise men change you knowC2
I now speak truth if she I hold most dearA
Slipped from my life and no least hope were leftR3
My heart would find the years more lonely hereP3
Than if I were of wealth fame friends bereftR3
And sent an exile to a foreign landH
-
His voice was low and measured as he spokeS3
New unknown chords of melody awokeS3
Within my soul I felt my heart expandH
With that sweet fullness born of love I turnedT3
To hide the blushes on my cheek that burnedT3
And leaning over Helen breathed her nameO
She lay so motionless I thought she sleptL
But as I spoke I saw her eyes uncloseE2
And o'er her face a sudden glory sweptL
And a slight tremor thrilled all through her frameO
Sweet friend I said your face is full of lightY
What were the dreams that made your eyes so brightY
-
She only smiled for answer and aroseE2
From her reclining posture at my sideH2
Threw back the clust'ring ringlets from her faceE2
With a quick gesture full of easy graceE2
And turning spoke to Vivian Will you guideH2
The boat up near that little clump of greenG
Off to the right There's where the lilies growC2
We quite forgot our errand here MaurineE2
And our few moments have grown into hoursE2
What will Aunt Ruth think of our ling'ring soC2
There that will do now I can reach the flowersE2
-
Hark just hear that and Vivian broke forth singingC
Row brothers row The six o'clock bell's ringingC
Who ever knew three hours to go so fastU3
In all the annals of the world beforeZ
I could have sworn not over one had passedU3
Young ladies I am forced to go ashoreZ
I thank you for the pleasure you have givenJ2
This afternoon has been a glimpse of heavenJ2
Good night sweet dreams and by your gracious leaveV3
I'll pay my compliments to morrow eveV3
-
A smile a bow and he had gone his wayE2
And in the waning glory of the dayE2
Down cool green lanes and through the length'ning shadowsE2
Silent we wandered back across the meadowsE2
The wreath was finished and adorned my roomO
Long afterward the lilies' copied bloomO
Was like a horrid specter in my sightY
Staring upon me morning noon and nightY
-
The sun went down The sad new moon rose upW3
And passed before me like an empty cupW3
The Great Unseen brims full of pain or blissE2
And gives His children saying Drink of thisE2
-
A light wind from the open casement fannedH
My brow and Helen's as we hand in handH
Sat looking out upon the twilight sceneG
In dreamy silence Helen's dark blue eyesE2
Like two lost stars that wandered from the skiesE2
Some night adown the meteor's shining trackN3
And always had been grieving to go backN3
Now gazed up wistfully at heaven's domeO
And seemed to recognize and long for homeO
Her sweet voice broke the silence Wish MaurineE2
Before you speak you know the moon is newG3
And anything you wish for will come trueG3
Before it wanes I do believe the signW2
Now tell me your wish and I'll tell you mineW2
-
I turned and looked up at the slim young moonJ3
And with an almost superstitious heartX3
I sighed Oh new moon help me by thine artX3
To grow all grace and goodness and to beE2
Worthy the love a true heart proffers meE2
Then smiling down I said Dear one my boonJ3
I fear is quite too silly or too sweetO3
For my repeating so we'll let it stayE2
Between the moon and me But if I mayE2
I'll listen now to your wish Tell me pleaseE2
-
All suddenly she nestled at my feetO3
And hid her blushing face upon my kneesE2
Then drew my hand against her glowing cheekY3
And leaning on my breast began to speakY3
Half sighing out the words my tortured earP3
Reached down to catch while striving not to hearP3
-
Can you not guess who 'twas about MaurineE2
Oh my sweet friend you must ere this have seenG
The love I tried to cover from all eyesE2
And from myself Ah foolish little heartX3
As well it might go seeking for some artX3
Whereby to hide the sun in noonday skiesE2
When first the strange sound of his voice I heardZ3
Looked on his noble face and touched his handH
My slumb'ring heart thrilled through and through and stirredZ3
As if to say 'I hear and understand '-
And day by day mine eyes were blest beholdingC
The inner beauty of his life unfoldingC
In countless words and actions that portrayedI3
The noble stuff of which his soul was madeI3
And more and more I felt my heart upreachingC
Toward the truth drawn gently by his teachingC
As flowers are drawn by sunlight And there grewG3
A strange shy something in its depths I knewG3
At length was love because it was so sadA4
And yet so sweet and made my heart so gladA4
-
Yet seemed to pain me Then for very shameO
Lest all should read my secret and its nameO
I strove to hide it in my breast awayE2
Where God could see it only But each dayE2
It seemed to grow within me and would riseE2
Like my own soul and look forth from my eyesE2
Defying bonds of silence and would speakC
In its red lettered language on my cheekC
If but his name was uttered You were kindY2
My own Maurine as you alone could beE2
So long the sharer of my heart and mindY2
While yet you saw in seeming not to seeE2
In all the years we have been friends my ownB4
And loved as women very rarely doG3
My heart no sorrow and no joy has knownB4
It has not shared at once in full with youG3
And I so longed to speak to you of thisE2
When first I felt its mingled pain and blissE2
Yet dared not lest you knowing him should sayE2
In pity for my folly 'Lack a dayE2
You are undone because no mortal artX3
Can win the love of such a lofty heart '-
And so I waited silent and in painF2
Till I could know I did not love in vainF2
And now I know beyond a doubt or fearA
Did he not say 'If she I hold most dearA
Slipped from my life and no least hope were leftR3
My heart would find the years more lonely hereP3
Than if I were of wealth fame friends bereftR3
And sent an exile to a foreign land'R3
Oh darling you must love to understandR3
The joy that thrilled all through me at those wordsE2
It was as if a thousand singing birdsE2
Within my heart broke forth in notes of praiseE2
I did not look up but I knew his gazeE2
Was on my face and that his eyes must seeE2
The joy I felt almost transfigured meE2
He loves me loves me so the birds kept singingC
And all my soul with that sweet strain is ringingC
If there were added but one drop of blissE2
No more my cup would hold and so this eveV3
I made a wish that I might feel his kissE2
Upon my lips ere yon pale moon should leaveV3
The stars all lonely having waned awayE2
Too old and weak and bowed with care to stayE2
-
Her voice sighed into silence While she spokeC
My heart writhed in me praying she would ceaseE2
Each word she uttered falling like a strokeC
On my bare soul And now a hush like deathR
Save that 'twas broken by a quick drawn breathR
Fell 'round me but brought not the hoped for peaceE2
For when the lash no longer leaves its blowsE2
The flesh still quivers and the blood still flowsE2
-
She nestled on my bosom like a childR3
And 'neath her head my tortured heart throbbed wildR3
With pain and pity She had told her taleG3
Her self deceiving story to the endR3
How could I look down on her as she layE2
So fair and sweet and lily like and frailG3
A tender blossom on my breast and sayE2
Nay you are wrong you do mistake dear friendR3
'Tis I am loved not you Yet that were truthC4
And she must know it laterD3
Should I speakC
And spread a ghastly pallor o'er the cheekC
Flushed now with joy And while I doubting ponderedR3
She spoke again Maurine I oft have wonderedR3
Why you and Vivian were not lovers HeE2
Is all a heart could ask its king to beE2
And you have beauty intellect and youthC4
I think it strange you have not loved each otherD3
Strange how he could pass by you for anotherD3
Not half so fair or worthy Yet I knowC2
A loving Father pre arranged it soC2
I think my heart has known him all these yearsE2
And waited for him And if when he cameO
It had been as a lover of my friendR3
I should have recognized him all the sameO
As my soul mate and loved him to the endR3
Hiding my grief and forcing back my tearsE2
Till on my heart slow dropping day by dayE2
Unseen they fell and wore it all awayE2
And so a tender Father kept him freeE2
With all the largeness of his love for meE2
For me unworthy such a precious giftR3
Yet I will bend each effort of my lifeD4
To grow in grace and goodness and to liftR3
My soul and spirit to his lofty heightR3
So to deserve that holy name his wifeD4
Sweet friend it fills my whole heart with delightR3
To breathe its long hid secret in your earP3
Speak my Maurine and say you love to hearP3
The while she spoke my active brain gave riseE2
To one great thought of mighty sacrificeE2
And self denial Oh it blanched my cheekC
And wrung my soul and from my heart it droveE4
All life and feeling Coward like I stroveE4
To send it from me but I felt it clingC
And hold fast on my mind like some live thingC
And all the Self within me felt its touchQ
And cried No no I cannot do so muchQ
I am not strong enough there is no callG3
And then the voice of Helen bade me speakC
And with a calmness born of nerve I saidR3
Scarce knowing what I uttered Sweetheart allG3
Your joys and sorrows are with mine own wedR3
I thank you for your confidence and prayE2
I may deserve it always But dear oneJ2
Something perhaps our boat ride in the sunJ2
Has set my head to aching I must goC2
To bed directly and you will I knowC2
Grant me your pardon and another dayE2
We'll talk of this together Now good nightR3
And angels guard you with their wings of lightR3
-
I kissed her lips and held her on my heartR3
And viewed her as I ne'er had done beforeZ
I gazed upon her features o'er and o'erD3
Marked her white tender face her fragile formO
Like some frail plant that withers in the stormO
Saw she was fairer in her new found joyF4
Than e'er before and thought Can I destroyF4
God's handiwork or leave it at the bestR3
A broken harp while I close clasp my blissE2
I bent my head and gave her one last kissE2
And sought my room and found there such reliefG4
As sad hearts feel when first alone with griefG4
-
The moon went down slow sailing from my sightR3
And left the stars to watch away the nightR3
O stars sweet stars so changeless and sereneG
What depths of woe your pitying eyes have seenG
The proud sun sets and leaves us with our sorrowC2
To grope alone in darkness till the morrowC2
The languid moon e'en if she deigns to riseE2
Soon seeks her couch grown weary of our sighsE2
But from the early gloaming till the dayE2
Sends golden liveried heralds forth to sayE2
He comes in might the patient stars shine onS2
Steadfast and faithful from twilight to dawnR2
And as they shone upon GethsemaneR2
And watched the struggle of a God like soulG3
Now from the same far height they shone on meE2
And saw the waves of anguish o'er me rollG3
-
The storm had come upon me all unseenR2
No sound of thunder fell upon my earP3
No cloud arose to tell me it was nearA
But under skies all sunlit and sereneR2
I floated with the current of the streamO
And thought life all one golden haloed dreamO
When lo a hurricane with awful forceE2
Swept swift upon its devastating courseE2
Wrecked my frail bark and cast me on the waveS
Where all my hopes had found a sudden graveS
Love makes us blind and selfish otherwiseE2
I had seen Helen's secret in her eyesE2
So used I was to reading every lookC
In her sweet face as I would read a bookC
But now made sightless by love's blinding raysE2
I had gone on unseeing to the endR3
Where Pain dispelled the mist of golden hazeE2
That walled me in and lo I found my friendR3
Who journeyed with me at my very sideR3
Had been sore wounded to the heart while IH4
Both deaf and blind saw not nor heard her cryH4
And then I sobbed O God I would have diedR3
To save her this And as I cried in painR2
There leaped forth from the still white realm of ThoughtR3
Where Conscience dwells that unimpassioned spotR3
As widely different from the heart's domainR2
As north from south the impulse felt beforeZ
And put away but now it rose once moreZ
In greater strength and said Heart would'st thou proveI4
What lips have uttered Then go lay thy loveJ4
On Friendship's altar as thy offeringC
Nay cried my heart ask any other thingC
Ask life itself 'twere easier sacrificeE2
But ask not love for that I cannot giveK4
-
But spoke the voice the meanest insect diesE2
And is no hero heroes dare to liveL4
When all that makes life sweet is snatched awayE2
So with my heart in converse till the dayE2
In gold and crimson billows rose and brokeC
The voice of Conscience all unwearied spokeC
Love warred with Friendship heart with Conscience foughtR3
Hours rolled away and yet the end was notR3
And wily Self tricked out like tendernessE2
Sighed Think how one whose life thou wert to blessE2
Will be cast down and grope in doubt and fearA
Wouldst thou wound him to give thy friend reliefG4
Can wrong make rightR3
Nay Conscience said but PrideR3
And Time can heal the saddest hurts of LoveJ4
While Friendship's wounds gape wide and yet more wideR3
And bitter fountains of the spirit proveI4
-
At length exhausted with the wearing strifeD4
I cast the new found burden of my lifeD4
On God's broad breast and sought that deep reposeE2
That only he who watched with sorrow knowsE2

Ella Wheeler Wilcox



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