The Sphinx Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A B C D EC C D C C F| Yellowish grey sand soft at the top hard grating below sand without end where ever one looks | A |
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| And above this sandy desert above this sea of dead dust rises the immense head of the Egyptian sphinx | B |
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| What would they say those thick projecting lips those immutable distended upturned nostrils and those eyes those long half drowsy half watchful eyes under the double arch of the high brows | C |
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| Something they would say They are speaking truly but only Oedipus can solve the riddle and comprehend their mute speech | D |
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| Stay but I know those features in them there is nothing Egyptian | E |
| White low brow prominent cheek bones nose short and straight handsome mouth and white teeth soft moustache and curly beard and those wide set not large eyes and on the head the cap of hair parted down the middle But it is thou Karp Sidor Semyon peasant of Yaroslav of Ryazan my countryman flesh and blood Russian Art thou too among the sphinxes | C |
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| Wouldst thou too say somewhat Yes and thou too art a sphinx | C |
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| And thy eyes those colourless deep eyes are speaking too and as mute and enigmatic is their speech | D |
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| But where is thy Oedipus | C |
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| Alas it's not enough to don the peasant smock to become thy Oedipus oh Sphinx of all the Russias | C |
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| Dec | F |
Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev
(1)
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About The Sphinx
The Sphinx is a poem by Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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