Retrospect Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCCCB DCDCEFFG CHHCIHJJIJI GGKGGGK GBBGBGGLGLG| Alas and I have sung | A |
| Much song of matters vain | B |
| And a heaven sweetened tongue | A |
| Turned to unprofiting strain | B |
| Of vacant things which though | C |
| Even so they be and throughly so | C |
| It is no boot at all for thee to know | C |
| But babble and false pain | B |
| - | |
| What profit if the sun | D |
| Put forth his radiant thews | C |
| And on his circuit run | D |
| Even after my device to this and to that use | C |
| And the true Orient Christ | E |
| Make not His cloud of thee | F |
| I have sung vanity | F |
| And nothing well devised | G |
| - | |
| And though the cry of stars | C |
| Give tongue before his way | H |
| Goldenly as I say | H |
| And each from wide Saturnus to hot Mars | C |
| He calleth by its name | I |
| Lest that its bright feet stray | H |
| And thou have lore of all | J |
| But to thine own Sun's call | J |
| Thy path disorbed hast never wit to tame | I |
| It profits not withal | J |
| And my rede is but lame | I |
| - | |
| Only that 'mid vain vaunt | G |
| Of wisdom ignorant | G |
| A little kiss upon the feet of Love | K |
| My hasty verse has stayed | G |
| Sometimes a space to plant | G |
| It has not wholly strayed | G |
| Not wholly missed near sweet fanning proud plumes above | K |
| - | |
| Therefore I do repent | G |
| That with religion vain | B |
| And misconceiv ed pain | B |
| I have my music bent | G |
| To waste on bootless things its skiey gendered rain | B |
| Yet shall a wiser day | G |
| Fulfil more heavenly way | G |
| And with approv ed music clear this slip | L |
| I trust in God most sweet | G |
| Meantime the silent lip | L |
| Meantime the climbing feet | G |
Francis Thompson
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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