Symphonic Studies (after Schumann) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A ABBACBBCDADAEE A FBBFGHHIJKJKAB A LMMLNOONPFFFBB A QFFQFRRFFSFSTT Q UVVUWFFWXYYXFF Q ZVVZFFFFA2FFB2VV Q C2D2D2C2FE2E2FF2QF2Q FF Q FG2G2FA2FFA2H2I2H2I2 J2J2i Prelude i | A |
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Blue storm clouds in hot heavens of mid July | A |
Hung heavy brooding over land and sea | B |
Our hearts a tremble throbbed in harmony | B |
With the wild restless tone of air and sky | A |
Shall we not call im Prospero who held | C |
In his enchanted hands the fateful key | B |
Of that tempestuous hour's mystery | B |
And with controlling wand our spirits spelled | C |
With him to wander by a sun bright shore | D |
To hear fine fairy voices and to fly | A |
With disembodied Ariel once more | D |
Above earth's wrack and ruin Far and nigh | A |
The laughter of the thunder echoed loud | E |
And harmless lightnings leapt from cloud to cloud | E |
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I | A |
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Floating upon a swelling wave of sound | F |
We seemed to overlook an endless sea | B |
Poised 'twixt clear heavens and glittering surf were we | B |
We drank the air in flight we knew no bound | F |
To the audacious ventures of desire | G |
Nigh us the sun was dropping drowned in gold | H |
Deep deep below the burning billows rolled | H |
And all the sea sang like a smitten lyre | I |
Oh the wild voices of those chanting waves | J |
The human faces glimpsed beneath the tide | K |
Familiar eyes gazed from profound sea caves | J |
And we exalted were as we had died | K |
We knew the sea was Life the harmonious cry | A |
The blended discords of humanity | B |
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II | A |
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Look deeper yet mark 'midst the wave blurred mass | L |
In lines distinct in colors clear defined | M |
The typic groups and figures of mankind | M |
Behold within the cool and liquid glass | L |
Bright child folk sporting with smooth yellow shells | N |
Astride of dolphins leaping up to kiss | O |
Fair mother faces From the vast abyss | O |
How joyously their thought free laughter wells | N |
Some slumber in grim caverns unafraid | P |
Lulled by the overwhelming water's sound | F |
And some make mouths at dragons undismayed | F |
Oh dauntless innocence The gulfs profound | F |
Re cho strangely with their ringing glee | B |
And with wise mermaids' plaintive melody | B |
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III | A |
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What do the sea nymphs in that coral cave | Q |
With wondering eyes their supple forms they bend | F |
O'er something rarely beautiful They lend | F |
Their lithe white arms and through the golden wave | Q |
They lift it tenderly Oh blinding sight | F |
A naked radiant goddess tranced in sleep | R |
Full limbed voluptuous 'neath the mantling sweep | R |
Of auburn locks that kiss her ankles white | F |
Upward they bear her chanting low and sweet | F |
The clinging waters part before their way | S |
Jewels of flame are dancing 'neath their feet | F |
Up in the sunshine on soft foam they lay | S |
Their precious burden and return forlorn | T |
Oh bliss oh anguish Mortals Love is born | T |
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IV | Q |
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Hark from unfathomable deeps a dirge | U |
Swells sobbing through the melancholy air | V |
Where love has entered Death is also there | V |
The wail outrings the chafed tumultuous surge | U |
Ocean and earth the illimitable skies | W |
Prolong one note a mourning for the dead | F |
The cry of souls not to be comforted | F |
What piercing music Funeral visions rise | W |
And send the hot tears raining down our cheek | X |
We see the silent grave upon the hill | Y |
With its lone lilac bush O heart be still | Y |
She will not rise she will not stir nor speak | X |
Surely the unreturning dead are blest | F |
Ring on sweet dirge and knell us to our rest | F |
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V | Q |
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Upon the silver beach the undines dance | Z |
With interlinking arms and flying hair | V |
Like polished marble gleam their limbs left bare | V |
Upon their virgin rites pale moonbeams glance | Z |
Softer the music for their foam bright feet | F |
Print not the moist floor where they trip their round | F |
Affrighted they will scatter at a sound | F |
Leap in their cool sea chambers nibly fleet | F |
And we shall doubt that we have ever seen | A2 |
While our sane eyes behold stray wreaths of mist | F |
Shot with faint colors by the moon rays kissed | F |
Floating snow soft snow white where these had been | B2 |
Already look the wave washed sands are bare | V |
And mocking laughter ripples through the air | V |
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VI | Q |
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Divided 'twixt the dream world and the real | C2 |
We heard the waxing passion of the song | D2 |
Soar as to scale the heavens on pinions strong | D2 |
Amidst the long reverberant thunder peal | C2 |
Against the rain blurred square of light the head | F |
Of the pale poet at the lyric keys | E2 |
Stood boldly cut absorbed in reveries | E2 |
While over it keen bladed lightnings played | F |
Rage on wild storm the music seemed to sing | F2 |
Not all the thunders of thy wrath can move | Q |
The soul that's dedicate to worshipping | F2 |
Eternal Beauty everlasting Love | Q |
No more the song was ended and behold | F |
A rainbow trembling on a sky of gold | F |
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i Epilogue i | Q |
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Forth in the sunlit rain bathed air we stepped | F |
Sweet with the dripping grass and flowering vine | G2 |
And saw through irised clouds the pale sun shine | G2 |
Back o'er the hills the rain mist slowly crept | F |
Like a transparent curtain's silvery sheen | A2 |
And fronting us the painted bow was arched | F |
Whereunder the majestic cloud shapes marched | F |
In the wet yellow light the dazzling green | A2 |
Of lawn and bush and tree seemed stained with blue | H2 |
Our hearts o'erflowed with peace With smiles we spake | I2 |
Of partings in the past of courage new | H2 |
Of high achievement of the dreams that make | I2 |
A wonder and a glory of our days | J2 |
And all life's music but a hymn of praise | J2 |
Emma Lazarus
(1)
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