Affliction Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACDE FGFGHH IJIKLL LMLMNN OLOLPQ RSRSTU VWVWRR LXLXYK GLGLZZ GNGNA2A2 B2C2B2C2D2D2| When thou didst entice to thee my heart | A |
| I thought the service brave | B |
| So many joys I writ down for my part | A |
| Besides what I might have | C |
| Out of my stock of natural delights | D |
| Augmented with thy gracious benefits | E |
| - | |
| I looked on thy furniture so fine | F |
| And made it fine to me | G |
| Thy glorious household stuff did me entwine | F |
| And 'tice me unto thee | G |
| Such stars I counted mine both heav'n and earth | H |
| Paid me my wages in a world of mirth | H |
| - | |
| What pleasures could I want whose King I served | I |
| Where joys my fellows were | J |
| Thus argu'd into hopes my thoughts reserved | I |
| No place for grief or fear | K |
| Therefore my sudden soul caught at the place | L |
| And made her youth and fierceness seek thy face | L |
| - | |
| At first thou gav'st me milk and sweetnesses | L |
| I had my wish and way | M |
| My days were straw'd with flow'rs and happiness | L |
| There was no month but May | M |
| But with my years sorrow did twist and grow | N |
| And made a party unawares for woe | N |
| - | |
| My flesh began unto my soul in pain | O |
| Sicknesses cleave my bones | L |
| Consuming agues dwell in ev'ry vein | O |
| And tune my breath to groans | L |
| Sorrow was all my soul I scarce believed | P |
| Till grief did tell me roundly that I lived | Q |
| - | |
| When I got health thou took'st away my life | R |
| And more for my friends die | S |
| My mirth and edge was lost a blunted knife | R |
| Was of more use than I | S |
| Thus thin and lean without a fence or friend | T |
| I was blown through with ev'ry storm and wind | U |
| - | |
| Whereas my birth and spirit rather took | V |
| The way that takes the town | W |
| Thou didst betray me to a lingering book | V |
| And wrap me in a gown | W |
| I was entangled in the world of strife | R |
| Before I had the power to change my life | R |
| - | |
| Yet for I threatened oft the siege to raise | L |
| Not simpring all mine age | X |
| Thou often didst with Academic praise | L |
| Melt and dissolve my rage | X |
| I took thy sweetened pill till I came where | Y |
| I could not go away nor persevere | K |
| - | |
| Yet lest perchance I should too happy be | G |
| In my unhappiness | L |
| Turning my purge to food thou throwest me | G |
| Into more sicknesses | L |
| Thus doth thy power cross bias me not making | Z |
| Thine own gift good yet me from my ways taking | Z |
| - | |
| Now I am here what thou wilt do with me | G |
| None of my books will show | N |
| I read and sigh and wish I were a tree | G |
| For sure I then should grow | N |
| To fruit or shade at least some bird would trust | A2 |
| Her household to me and I should be just | A2 |
| - | |
| Yet though thou troublest me I must be meek | B2 |
| In weakness must be stout | C2 |
| Well I will change the service and go seek | B2 |
| Some other master out | C2 |
| Ah my dear God though I am clean forgot | D2 |
| Let me not love thee if I love thee not | D2 |
George Herbert
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