The Two Glasses Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDEDEFFGGHHIIJJKKLM M NNOOOOPPIIQQRRSSOOKK CCAA| There sat two glasses filled to the brim | A |
| On a rich man's table rim to rim | A |
| One was ruddy and red as blood | B |
| And one was clear as the crystal flood | B |
| - | |
| Said the glass of wine to his paler brother | C |
| Let us tell tales of the past to each other | C |
| I can tell of banquet and revel and mirth | D |
| Where I was a king for I ruled in might | E |
| For the proudest and grandest souls on earth | D |
| Fell under my touch as though struck with blight | E |
| From the heads of kings I have torn the crown | F |
| From the heights of fame I have hurled men down | F |
| I have blasted many an honored name | G |
| I have taken virtue and given shame | G |
| I have tempted the youth with a sip a taste | H |
| That has made his future a barren waste | H |
| Far greater than any king am I | I |
| Or than any army beneath the sky | I |
| I have made the arm of the driver fail | J |
| And sent the train from the iron rail | J |
| I have made good ships go down at sea | K |
| And the shrieks of the lost were sweet to me | K |
| Fame strength wealth genius before me fall | L |
| Ho ho pale brother said the wine | M |
| Can you boast of deeds as great as mine | M |
| - | |
| Said the water glass I cannot boast | N |
| Of a king dethroned or a murdered host | N |
| But I can tell of hearts that were sad | O |
| By my crystal drops made bright and glad | O |
| Of thirsts I have quenched and brows I have laved | O |
| Of hands I have cooled and souls I have saved | O |
| I have leaped through the valley dashed down the mountain | P |
| Slept in the sunshine and dripped from the fountain | P |
| I have burst my cloud fetters and dropped from the sky | I |
| And everywhere gladdened the prospect and eye | I |
| I have eased the hot forehead of fever and pain | Q |
| I have made the parched meadows grow fertile with grain | Q |
| I can tell of the powerful wheel of the mill | R |
| That ground out the flower and turned at my will | R |
| I can tell of manhood debased by you | S |
| That I have uplifted and crowned anew | S |
| I cheer I help I strengthen and aid | O |
| I gladden the heart of man and maid | O |
| I set the wine chained captive free | K |
| And all are better for knowing me | K |
| - | |
| These are the tales they told each other | C |
| The glass of wine and its paler brother | C |
| As they sat together filled to the brim | A |
| On a rich man's table rim to rim | A |
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(1)
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