The Wild Knight Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCD EF G HGIGBJEJ K D G L M G N O G G G P Q RSTUP V W X YZX A2 L B2 C2 D2QE2BF2GG2 L YW G H2I2 L J2K2L2 G L2M2 G N2 G Z Q G O2 G RH2 P2 O Q2 G G R2 S2T2 U2 V2 G W2X2Y2 H Z2GX2 G A3 G H2W2 H X2 G B H Z G C2 H B3 G C3BBH2D3 H C2C2 G E3F3Y2 H G3H3I3J3 G Q2V2 G K2K3C3L3 M3 N3N3N3 C3 G H O3 G P3 H G G G I2 I2 C3 Q3 H R3 L3 WGBS3J3G P3 G T3 G R3 I2 U3H2 P3 V3 W3G X3 C3 U3 Y3 Z3 A4W3Y C2 G M2 H M2 B4 P3C3 G H H C4D4G D4 E3A3D4G E4 S3F4 P2 G4 H4 D G S3F4 G D4C2M2 Q G BY2S3Z2 G N3 G G C2 GI4J2 G C2Y2G C2 J4 G K4L4Y2 H Y2 G C2M4 N4 O4 H G G GZ3P4G3B2A3GQ4R4 C2 M3 S4 C4 GU3 D C2 G G H C2 O3 G O3H2H2 H2 G G T4NG3 G G G U4 C2 C2 G L4 C2 I2 G H2V4H2W4X4 C2 W3Y4H2Z4X2I2FG4 F H2 C2 N3G C2 H2 C2 H2F4 C2 H3T3E2 C2 Z C2 C2 K2C2U3TYD4 C2 ZFF G C2C2 C2 G X4C2C2H2RH2 C2 G G C2 C2 BH2A3YH2 G C2M3 Q C2 GH2GO3H2GG4GH2GY3YGC 2H2H2GGYC2B2 E4 H3L3H3H2H3GO4C2NGH2B GR4L3H2H3H2H3GH2H2H3 H2 J4C2H2C2C2C2GHC2H2GN 3C2H2H3Y4GH3L3H3J4NH 3H3C2NJ4 H3H3 H2 H3 H3 C2H3 M3 H3C2 N3 C2 I3GGH3H2H3F4 L3 H3 H3 H3C2 H2 F2GH3H2GH3

A dark manor house shuttered and unlighted outlined against a paleA
sunset in front a large but neglected garden To the right in theB
foreground the porch of a chapel with coloured windows lighted HymnsC
withinD
-
Above the porch a grotesque carved bracket supporting a lanternE
Astride of it sits CAPTAIN REDFEATHER a flagon in his handF
-
REDFEATHERG
-
I have drunk to all I know ofH
To every leaf on the treeG
To the highest bird of the heavensI
To the lowest fish of the seaG
What toast what toast remainethB
Drunk down in the same good wineJ
By the tippler's cup in the tavernE
And the priest's cup at the shrineJ
-
A Priest comes out stick in hand and looks right and leftK
-
VOICES WITHIND
-
The brawlerG
-
PRIESTL
-
He has vanishedM
-
REDFEATHERG
-
To the starsN
-
The Priest looks upO
-
PRIEST angrilyG
-
What would you there sirG
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Give you all a toastP
-
Lifts his flagon More priests come outQ
-
I see my life behind me bad enoughR
Drink duels madness beggary and prideS
The life of the unfit yet ere I dropT
On Nature's rubbish heap I weigh it allU
And give you all a toastP
-
Reels to his feet and standsV
-
The health of GodW
-
They all recoil from himX
-
Let's give the Devil of the Heavens His dueY
He that made grass so green and wine so redZ
Is not so black as you have painted himX
-
DrinksA2
-
PRIESTL
-
Blaspheming profligateB2
-
REDFEATHER hurls the flagon among themC2
-
Howl ye dumb dogsD2
I named your King let me have one great shoutQ
Flutter the seraphim like startled birdsE2
Make God recall the good days of His youthB
Ere saints had saddened Him when He came backF2
Conqueror of Chaos in a six days' warG
With all the sons of God shouting for joyG2
-
PRIESTL
-
And you what is your right and who are youY
To praise GodW
-
REDFEATHERG
-
A lost soul In earth or heavenH2
What has a better rightI2
-
PRIESTL
-
Go pagan goJ2
Drink dice and dance take no more thought than blindK2
Beasts of the fieldL2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Or lilies of the fieldL2
To quote a pagan sage I go my wayM2
-
PRIEST solemnlyG
-
And when Death comesN2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
He shall not find me deadZ
-
Puts on his plumed hat The priests go outQ
-
REDFEATHERG
-
These frozen foolsO2
-
The Lady Olive comes out of the chapel He sees herG
-
Oh they were right enoughR
Where shall I hide my carrion from the sunH2
-
Buries his face His hat drops to the groundP2
-
OLIVE looking upO
-
Captain are you from church I saw you notQ2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
No I am hereG
-
Lays his hand on a gargoyleR2
-
I too am a grotesqueS2
And dance with all the devils on the roofT2
-
OLIVE with a strange smileU2
-
For Satan also I have often prayedV2
-
REDFEATHER roughlyG
-
Satan may worry women if he willW2
For he was but an angel ere he fellX2
But I before I fell I was a manY2
-
OLIVEH
-
He too my Master was a man too strongZ2
To fear a strong man's sins 'tis written HeG
Descended into hellX2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Write then that IA3
-
Leaps to the ground before herG
-
Descended into heavenH2
You are illW2
-
OLIVEH
-
No wellX2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
You speak the truth you are the TruthB
Lady say once again then 'I am well '-
-
OLIVEH
-
I ah God give me grace I am nigh deadZ
-
REDFEATHER quietlyG
-
Lord OrmC2
-
OLIVEH
-
Yes yesB3
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Is in your father's houseC3
Having the title deeds would drive you forthB
Homeless and with your father sick to deathB
Into this winter save on a conditionH2
NamedD3
-
OLIVEH
-
And unnameable Even so Lord OrmC2
Ah do you know himC2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Ay I saw him onceE3
The sun shone on his face that smiled and smiledF3
A sight not wholesome to the eyes of manY2
-
OLIVEH
-
Captain I tell you God once fell asleepG3
And in that hour the world went as it wouldH3
Dogs brought forth cats and poison grew in grapesI3
And Orm was bornJ3
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Why curse him can he notQ2
Be kicked or paidV2
-
OLIVE feverishlyG
-
Hush He is just behindK2
There in the house see how the great house glaresK3
Glares like an ogre's mask the whole dead houseC3
Possessed with bestial meaningL3
-
ScreamsM3
-
Ah the faceN3
The whole great grinning house his face his faceN3
His faceN3
-
REDFEATHER in a voice of thunder pointing away from the houseC3
-
Look there look thereG
-
OLIVEH
-
What is it WhatO3
-
REDFEATHERG
-
I think it was a birdP3
-
OLIVEH
-
What thought you trulyG
-
REDFEATHERG
-
I think a mighty thought is drawing nearG
-
Enter THE WILD KNIGHTI2
-
THE WILD KNIGHTI2
-
That houseC3
-
PointsQ3
-
OLIVEH
-
Ah Christ Shudders I had forgotten itR3
-
THE WILD KNIGHT still pointingL3
-
That house the house at last the house of GodW
Wherein God makes an evening feast for meG
The house at last I know the twisted pathB
Under the twisted pear tree this I sawS3
In the first dream I had ere I was bornJ3
It is the house of God He welcomes meG
-
Strides forwardP3
-
REDFEATHERG
-
That house God's bloodT3
-
OLIVE hystericallyG
-
Is not this hell's own witR3
-
THE WILD KNIGHTI2
-
God grows impatient and His wine is pouredU3
His bread is brokenH2
-
Rushes forwardP3
-
REDFEATHER leaps betweenV3
-
Stand away great foolW3
There is a devil thereG
-
THE WILD KNIGHT draws his sword and waves it as he rushesX3
-
God's house God's houseC3
-
REDFEATHER plucks out his own swordU3
-
Better my hand than hisY3
-
The blades clashZ3
-
God alone knowsA4
What That within might do to you poor foolW3
I can but kill youY
-
They fight OLIVE tries to part themC2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Olive stand awayM2
-
OLIVEH
-
I will not stand awayM2
-
Steps between the swordsB4
-
Stranger a wordP3
Yes you are right God is within that houseC3
-
REDFEATHERG
-
OliveH
-
OLIVEH
-
But He is all too beautifulC4
For us who only know of stars and flowersD4
The thing within is all too pure and fairG
-
ShuddersD4
-
Too awful in its ancient innocenceE3
For men to look upon it and not dieA3
Ourselves would fade into those still white firesD4
Of peace and mercyG
-
Struggles with her voiceE4
-
There enough the lawS3
No flesh shall look upon the Lord and liveF4
-
REDFEATHER sticking his sword in the groundP2
-
You are the bravest lady in the worldG4
-
THE WILD KNIGHT dazedH4
-
May I not go withinD
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Keep you the lawS3
No flesh shall look upon the Lord and liveF4
-
THE WILD KNIGHT sadlyG
-
Then I will go and lay me in the flowersD4
For He may haply as in ancient timeC2
Walk in the garden in the cool of dayM2
-
He goes outQ
-
OLIVE reels REDFEATHER catches herG
-
You are the strongest woman upon earthB
The weakest woman than the strongest manY2
Is stronger in her hour this is the lawS3
When the hour passes then may we be strongZ2
-
OLIVE wildlyG
-
The House the FaceN3
-
REDFEATHER fiercelyG
-
I love you Look at meG
-
OLIVE turns her face to himC2
-
I hear six birds sing in that little treeG
Say is the old earth laughing at my fearsI4
I think I love you alsoJ2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
What I amC2
You know But I will never curse a manY2
Even in a mirrorG
-
OLIVE smiling at himC2
-
And the Devil's danceJ4
-
REDFEATHERG
-
The Devil plotted since the world was youngK4
With alchemies of fire and witches' oilsL4
And magic But he never made a manY2
-
OLIVEH
-
No not a manY2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Not even my Lord OrmC2
Look at the house nowM4
-
She starts and looksN4
-
Honest brick and tilesO4
-
OLIVEH
-
You have a strange strength in this hourG
-
REDFEATHERG
-
This hourG
I see with mortal eye as in one flashZ3
The whole divine democracy of thingsP4
And dare the stars to scorn a scavenge heapG3
Olive I tell you every soul is greatB2
Weave we green crowns how noble and how highA3
Fling we white flowers how radiant and how pureG
Is he whoe'er he be who next shall crossQ4
This scrap of grassR4
-
Enter LORD ORMC2
-
OLIVE screamsM3
-
AhS4
-
REDFEATHER pointing to the chapelC4
-
Olive go and prayG
for a man soon to die Good day my LordU3
-
She goes inD
-
LORD ORMC2
-
Good dayG
-
REDFEATHERG
-
I am a friend to Lady OliveH
-
LORD ORMC2
-
Sir you are fortunateO3
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Most fortunateO3
In finding sword on thigh and ready oneH2
Who is a villain and a gentlemanH2
-
LORD ORM picks up the flagonH2
-
Empty I seeG
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Oh sir you never drinkT4
You dread to lose yourself before the starsN
Do you not dread to sleepG3
-
LORD ORM violentlyG
-
What would you hereG
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Receive from you the title deeds you holdU4
-
LORD ORMC2
-
You entertain meC2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
With a bout at foilsL4
-
LORD ORMC2
-
I will not fightI2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
I know you better thenH2
I have seen men grow mangier than the beastsV4
Eat bread with blood upon their fingers grinH2
While women burned but one last law they servedW4
When I say 'Coward ' is the law awakeX4
-
LORD ORMC2
-
Hear me then too I have seen robbers ruleW3
And thieves go clad in gold age after ageY4
Because though sordid ragged rude and meanH2
They saw like gods no law above their headsZ4
But when they fell then for this cause they fellX2
This last mean cobweb of the fairy tales
Of good and ill that they must stand and fightI2
When a man bade though they had chose to standF
And fight not I am stronger than the worldG4
-
Folds his arms
-
REDFEATHER lifts his handF
-
If in your body be the blood of manH2
-
Strikes himC2
-
Now let it rush to the faceN3
God Have you sunk
Lower than angerG
-
LORD ORMC2
-
How I triumph nowH2
-
REDFEATHER stamps wildlyC2
-
Damned whimpering dog vile snivelling sick poltroonH2
Are you aliveF4
-
LORD ORMC2
-
Evil be thou my goodH3
Let the sun blacken and the moon be bloodT3
I have said the wordsE2
-
REDFEATHER studying himC2
-
And if I struck you deadZ
You would turn to daisies
-
LORD ORMC2
-
And you do not strike
-
REDFEATHER dreamilyC2
-
Indeed poor soul such magic would be kindK2
And full of pity as a fairy taleC2
One touch of this bright wand Lifts his swordU3
and down would dropT
The dark abortive blunder that is youY
And you would change forgiven into flowersD4
-
LORD ORMC2
-
And yet and yet you do not strike me deadZ
I do not draw the sword is in your handF
Drive the blade through me where I standF
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Lord OrmC2
You asked the Lady Olive I can speak
As to a toad to you my lord you asked
Olive to be your paramour and sheC2
-
LORD ORMC2
-
Refused
-
REDFEATHERG
-
And yet her father was at stakeX4
And she is soft and kind Now look at meC2
Ragged and ruined soaked in bestial sins
My lord I too have my virginityC2
Turn the thing round my lord and topside downH2
You cannot spell it Be the fact enoughR
I use no sword upon a swordless manH2
-
LORD ORMC2
-
For herG
-
REDFEATHERG
-
I too have my virginityC2
-
LORD ORMC2
-
Now look on me I am the lord of earthB
For I have broken the last bond of manH2
I stand erect crowned with the stars and whyA3
Because I stand a coward because youY
Have mercy on a coward Do I winH2
-
REDFEATHERG
-
Though there you stand with moving mouth and eyes
I think my lord you are not possibleC2
God keep you from my dreamsM3
-
Goes outQ
-
LORD ORMC2
-
Alone and freeG
Since first in flowery meads a child I ranH2
My one long thirst to be alone and freeG
Free of all laws creeds codes and common tests
Shameless anarchic infiniteO3
Why thenH2
I might have done in that dark libertyG
If I should say 'a good deed ' men would laugh
But here are none to laugh
The godless worldG4
Be thanked there is no God to spy on meG
Catch me and crown me with a vulgar crownH2
For what I do if I should once believe
The horror of that ancient EavesdropperG
Behind the starry arras of the skies
I should well well enough of menacesY3
should not do the thing I come to doY
What do I come to do Let me but tryG
To spell it to my soulC2
Suppose a manH2
Perfectly free and utterly aloneH2
Free of all love of law equally freeG
Of all the love of mutiny it breeds
Free of the love of heaven and also freeG
Of all the love of hell it drives us toY
Not merely void of rules unconscious of themC2
So strong that naught alive could do him hurt
So wise that he knew all things and so greatB2
That none knew what he was or what he did
A lawless giant
-
A pause then in a low voiceE4
-
Would he not be goodH3
Hate is the weakness of a thwarted thingL3
Pride is the weakness of a thing unpraisedH3
But he this manH2
He would be like a childH3
Girt with the tomes of some vast libraryG
Who reads romance after romance and smilesO4
When every tale ends well impersonalC2
As God he grows melted in suns and starsN
So would this boundless man whom none could spyG
Taunt him with virtue censure him with vice
Rejoice in all men's joys with golden penH2
Write all the live romances of the earthB
To a triumphant close
Alone and freeG
In this grey cool clean garden washed with winds
What do I come to do among the grassR4
The daisies and the dews An awful thingL3
To prove I am that manH2
That while these saints
Taunt me with trembling dare me to revenge
I breathe an upper air of ancient goodH3
And strong eternal laughter send my sunH2
And rain upon the evil and the justH3
Turn my left cheek unto the smiter HeG
That told me sword in hand that I had fallenH2
Lower than anger knew not I had risenH2
Higher than prideH3
Enough the deeds are mineH2
-
Takes out the title deeds
-
I come to write the end of a romanceJ4
A good romance the characters Lord OrmC2
Type of the starved heart and stored brainH2
Who strives to hate and cannot fronting himC2
Redfeather rake in process of reformC2
At root a poet I have hopes of himC2
He can love virtue for he still loves vice
He is not all burnt out He beats me thereG
How I beat him in owning it in loveH
He is still young and has the joy of shameC2
And for the Lady Olive who shall speak
A man may weigh the courage of a manH2
But if there be a bottomless abyss
It is a woman's valour such as IG
Can only bow the knee and hide the faceN3
Thank God there is no God to spy on meC2
And bring his cursed crowns
No there is noneH2
The old incurable hunger of the worldH3
Surges in wolfish wars age after ageY4
There was no God before me none sees whereG
Between the brute womb and the deaf dead grave
Unhoping unrecorded unrepaidH3
I make with smoke fire and burnt offeringL3
This sacrifice to Chaos Lights the papers None beholdH3
Me write in fire the end of the romanceJ4
Burn I am God and crown myself with starsN
Upon creation day before was nightH3
And chaos of a blind and cruel worldH3
I am the first God I will trample hellC2
Fight conquer make the story of the starsN
Like this poor story end like a romanceJ4
-
The paper burns
-
Before was brainless night but I am GodH3
In this black world I rend Let there be lightH3
-
The paper blazes up illuminating the gardenH2
-
I GodH3
-
THE WILD KNIGHT rushes forwardH3
-
God's Light God's Voice yes it is HeC2
Walking in Eden in the cool of the dayH3
-
LORD ORM screamsM3
-
Tricked CaughtH3
Damned screeching rat in a holeC2
-
Stabs him again and again with his sword stamps on his faceN3
-
THE WILD KNIGHT faintlyC2
-
Earth grows too beautiful around me shapesI3
And colours fearfully wax fair and clearG
For I have heard as thro' a door ajarG
Scraps of the huge soliloquy of GodH3
That moveth as a mask the lips of manH2
If man be very silent they were rightH3
No flesh shall look upon the Lord and liveF4
-
Dies
-
LORD ORM staggers back laughingL3
-
Saved saved my secretH3
-
REDFEATHER rushing in sword in handH3
-
The drawn sword at lastH3
Guard son of hellC2
-
They fight ORM falls OLIVE comes inH2
-
He too can die Keep backF2
Olive keep back from him I did not fearG
Him living and he fell before my swordH3
But dead I fear him All is ended nowH2
A man's whole life tied in a bundle thereG
And no good deed I fear him Come awayH3

G. K. Chesterton



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