Margaret's Bridal Eve Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBBC BBBC BBBC BBBC BBBC BBBC A DEDF GEGF BEBF HEHF IEII JEJI KEKI LELI MEMI A NBNC OBOC PBPC QBQC KBKC RBSC ABAC TBTC UBVC WEWI BEBI VEVI BEBI XEII BEBI BEBI BEBI BEBI BEBI YEYI ZEZI A2EA2I B2EB2I ZEZI LELI C2EC2I D2EE2I BEBI D2EE2I DEDII | A |
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The old grey mother she thrummed on her knee | B |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
And which of the handsome young men shall it be | B |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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My daughter come hither come hither to me | B |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Come point me your finger on him that you see | B |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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O mother my mother it never can be | B |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
For I shall bring shame on the man marries me | B |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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Now let your tongue be deep as the sea | B |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
And the man'll jump for you right briskly will he | B |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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Tall Margaret wept bitterly | B |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
And as her parent bade did she | B |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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O the handsome young man dropped down on his knee | B |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Pale Margaret gave him her hand woe's me | B |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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II | A |
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O mother my mother this thing I must say | D |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
Ere he lies on the breast where that other lay | D |
And the bird sings over the roses | F |
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Now folly my daughter for men are men | G |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
You marry them blindfold I tell you again | G |
And the bird sings over the roses | F |
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O mother but when he kisses me | B |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
My child 'tis which shall sweetest be | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | F |
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O mother but when I awake in the morn | H |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
My child you are his and the ring is worn | H |
And the bird sings over the roses | F |
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Tall Margaret sighed and loosened a tress | I |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
Poor comfort she had of her comeliness | I |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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My mother will sink if this thing be said | J |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
That my first betrothed came thrice to my bed | J |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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He died on my shoulder the third cold night | K |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
I dragged his body all through the moonlight | K |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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But when I came by my father's door | L |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
I fell in a lump on the stiff dead floor | L |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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O neither to heaven nor yet to hell | M |
There is a rose in the garden | E |
Could I follow the lover I loved so well | M |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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III | A |
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The bridesmaids slept in their chambers apart | N |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Tall Margaret walked with her thumping heart | N |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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The frill of her nightgown below the left breast | O |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Had fall'n like a cloud of the moonlighted West | O |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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But where the West cloud breaks to a star | P |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Pale Margaret's breast showed a winding scar | P |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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O few are the brides with such a sign | Q |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Though I went mad the fault was mine | Q |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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I must speak to him under this roof to night | K |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
I shall burn to death if I speak in the light | K |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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O my breast I must strike you a bloodier wound | R |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Than when I scored you red and swooned | S |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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I will stab my honour under his eye | A |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Though I bleed to the death I shall let out the lie | A |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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O happy my bridesmaids white sleep is with you | T |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
Had he chosen among you he might sleep too | T |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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O happy my bridesmaids your breasts are clean | U |
There is a rose that's ready | B |
You carry no mark of what has been | V |
There's a rose that's ready for clipping | C |
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IV | - |
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An hour before the chilly beam | W |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
The bridegroom started out of a dream | W |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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He went to the door and there espied | B |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
The figure of his silent bride | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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He went to the door and let her in | V |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
Whiter looked she than a child of sin | V |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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She looked so white she looked so sweet | B |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
She looked so pure he fell at her feet | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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He fell at her feet with love and awe | X |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
A stainless body of light he saw | I |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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O Margaret say you are not of the dead | B |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
My bride by the angels at night are you led | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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I am not led by the angels about | B |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
But I have a devil within to let out | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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O Margaret my bride and saint | B |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
There is on you no earthly taint | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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I am no saint and no bride can I be | B |
Red rose and while in the garden | E |
Until I have opened my bosom to thee | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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To catch at her heart she laid one hand | B |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
She told the tale where she did stand | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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She stood before him pale and tall | Y |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
Her eyes between his she told him all | Y |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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She saw how her body grow freckled and foul | Z |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
She heard from the woods the hooting owl | Z |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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With never a quiver her mouth did speak | A2 |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
O when she had done she stood so meek | A2 |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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The bridegroom stamped and called her vile | B2 |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
He did but waken a little smile | B2 |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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The bridegroom raged and called her foul | Z |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
She heard from the woods the hooting owl | Z |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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He muttered a name full bitter and sore | L |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
She fell in a lump on the still dead floor | L |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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O great was the wonder and loud the wail | C2 |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
When through the household flew the tale | C2 |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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The old grey mother she dressed the bier | D2 |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
With a shivering chin and never a tear | E2 |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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O had you but done as I bade you my child | B |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
You would not have died and been reviled | B |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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The bridegroom he hung at midnight by the bier | D2 |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
He eyed the white girl thro' a dazzling tear | E2 |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
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O had you been false as the women who stray | D |
Red rose and white in the garden | E |
You would not be now with the Angels of Day | D |
And the bird sings over the roses | I |
George Meredith
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