Shemselnihar Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCC DEDECC FCFCCC GHGHCC IJIJCC KLKLCC MNMNCC| O my lover the night like a broad smooth wave | A |
| Bears us onward and morn a black rock shines wet | B |
| How I shuddered I knew not that I was a slave | A |
| Till I looked on thy face then I writhed in the net | B |
| Then I felt like a thing caught by fire that her star | C |
| Glowed dark on the bosom of Shemselnihar | C |
| - | |
| And he came whose I am O my lover he came | D |
| And his slave still so envied of women was I | E |
| And I turned as a hissing leaf spits from the flame | D |
| Yes I shrivelled to dust from him haggard and dry | E |
| O forgive her she was but as dead lilies are | C |
| The life of her heart fled from Shemselnihar | C |
| - | |
| Yet with thee like a full throbbing rose how I bloom | F |
| Like a rose by the fountain whose showering we hear | C |
| As we lie O my lover in this rich gloom | F |
| Smelling faint the cool breath of the lemon groves near | C |
| As we lie gazing out on that glowing great star | C |
| Ah dark on the bosom of Shemselnihar | C |
| - | |
| Yet with thee am I not as an arm of the vine | G |
| Firm to bind thee to cherish thee feed thee sweet | H |
| Swear an oath on my lip to let none disentwine | G |
| The life that here fawns to give warmth to thy feet | H |
| I on thine thus no more shall that jewelled Head jar | C |
| The music thou breathest on Shemselnihar | C |
| - | |
| Far away far away where the wandering scents | I |
| Of all flowers are sweetest white mountains among | J |
| There my kindred abide in their green and blue tents | I |
| Bear me to them my lover they lost me so young | J |
| Let us slip down the stream and leap steed till afar | C |
| None question thy claim upon Shemselnihar | C |
| - | |
| O that long note the bulbul gave out meaning love | K |
| O my lover hark to him and think it my voice | L |
| The blue night like a great bell flower from above | K |
| Drooping low and gold eyed O but hear him rejoice | L |
| Can it be 'twas a flash that accurst scimiter | C |
| In thought even cuts thee from Shemselnihar | C |
| - | |
| Yes I would that less generous he would oppress | M |
| He would chain me upbraid me burn deep brands for hate | N |
| Than with this mask of freedom and gorgeousness | M |
| Bespangle my slavery mock my strange fate | N |
| Would would would O my lover he knew dared debar | C |
| Thy coming and earn curse of Shemselnihar | C |
George Meredith
(1)
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