Experience Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF GH IIJJ KKLLDDMMNNOPQQRRSSTT UUVV WWQQDDXXGYZZA2A2 B2B2C2C2OOGYYYYYYYD2 D2SSAAE2E2YYF2F2YYG2 G2E2E2H2H2I2I2YYJ2J2 Y BBK2L2E2E2 E2E2E2E2G2G2QQM2N2E2 E2E2E2YYYYO2O2E2E2 YYYYP2P2C2C2C2E2E2E2 E2 Q2Q2D2D2E2E2E2E2R2R2 E2E2C2C2M2M2D2D2YYS2 S2T2T2 E2E2E2E2E2E2YYM2M2YY

A COSTLY good that none e'er bought or soldA
For gem or pearl or miser's store twice toldA
Save certain watery pearls possessed by allB
Which one by one may buy it as they fallB
Of these though precious few will not sufficeC
So slow the traffic and so large the priceC
-
It is for wrinkled brows grey locks and sighsD
Not for bright blooming cheeks and sparkling eyesD
When those have faded these as dimly shineE
Then in their stead Experience may be thineE
Books will assert and sires and pulpits teachF
And youth may listen to their sober speechF
And smiling lips pronounce a careless 'yes '-
While neither eye nor heart can acquiesceG
But grief extorts conviction brings to viewH
Those slightest words and answers 'very true '-
Surprised reluctant yet at last compelledI
To own what long in doubtful scale was heldI
That life whate'er the course our own has ledJ
Is much the same as what our fathers saidJ
-
A tattered cottage to the view of tasteK
In beauty glows at needful distance placedK
Its broken panes its richly ruined thatchL
Its gable graced with many a mossy patchL
The sunset lighting up its varied dyesD
Form quite a picture to poetic eyesD
And yield delight that modern brick and boardM
Square sound and well arranged would not affordM
But cross the mead to take a nearer kenN
Where all the magic of the vision thenN
The picturesque is vanished and the eyeO
Averted turns from loathsome povertyP
And while it lingers e'en the sun's pure rayQ
Seems almost sullied by its transient stayQ
The broken walls with slight repairs embossedR
Are but cold comforts in a winter's frostR
No smiling peaceful peasant half refinedS
There tunes his reed on rustic seat reclinedS
But there the bended form and haggard faceT
Worn with the lines that vice and misery traceT
Thus fades the charm by vernal hope suppliedU
To every object it has never triedU
To fairy visions and elysian meadsV
Thus vulgar cold reality succeedsV
-
When sanguine youth the plain of life surveysW
It does not calculate on rainy daysW
Some as they enter on the unknown wayQ
Expect large troubles at a distant dayQ
The loss of wealth or friends they fondly prizeD
But reckon not on ills of smaller sizeD
Those nameless trifling ills that interveneX
And people life infesting every sceneX
And there with silent unavowed successG
Wear off the keener edge of happinessY
Those teazing swarms that buzz about our joysZ
More potent than the whirlwind that destroysZ
Potent with heavenly teaching to attestA2
Life is a pilgrimage and not a restA2
-
That lesson learned aright is valued moreB2
Than all experience ever taught beforeB2
For this her choicest secret timely givenC2
Is wisdom virtue happiness and heavenC2
Long is religion viewed by many an eyeO
As wanted more for safety by and byO
A thing for times of danger and distressG
Than needful for our present happinessY
But after fruitless wearisome assaysY
To find repose and peace in other waysY
The sickened soul when Heaven imparts its graceY
Returns to seek its only resting placeY
And sweet Experience proves as years increaseY
That wisdom ways are pleasantness and peaceY
Yes and the late conviction fraught with painD2
On many a callous conscience strikes in vainD2
Blind to ourselves to others not less blindS
We slowly learn to understand mankindS
Sanguine and ardent indisposed to holdA
The cautious maxims that our fathers toldA
We place new objects in the fairest lightE2
And offer generous friendship at first sightE2
Expect though not the first rate mental powersY
A mind at least in unison with oursY
Free from those meaner faults that most conspireF2
To damp our love if not put out its fireF2
Cold o'er the heart the slight expression stealsY
That first some trait of character revealsY
A fault perhaps less prominent aloneG2
But causing painful friction with our ownG2
Long is the harsh reluctant thought supprestE2
We drive the cold suspicion from our breastE2
But when confirmed our generous love condemnH2
Turn off disgusted with the world and themH2
Resolve no more at Friendship's fane to serveI2
And call her names she does not quite deserveI2
But this is rash Experience would confessY
That friendship's very frailties chill us lessY
Sincere and well intentioned all the whileJ2
Than the world's complaisant and polished smileJ2
With other chattels nameless in my verseY
Friends must be held 'for better and for worse '-
And that alone true friendship we should callB
Which undertakes to love us faults and allB
And she who guides this humble line could proveK2
There is there is such candid generous loveL2
And from the life her faithful hand could paintE2
Glowing exceptions to her own complaintE2
-
But that of all discoveries life can boastE2
Which disappoints us and surprises mostE2
Is when the pleasing veil that serves to hideE2
Self from itself by chance is drawn asideE2
As when perhaps some kindred mind is shownG2
In which we trace a portrait of our ownG2
Dissolved at once as by the morning rayQ
The mists of self delusion pass awayQ
As that bright moment's unexpected glareM2
Shows us the best and worst of what we areN2
Or some chance word in hasty converse droptE2
By which the wheel work of the mind is stoptE2
That movement which in daily course goes roundE2
And leaves us just precisely where it foundE2
This casual word creates a wholesome pauseY
The startled mind its quick conclusion drawsY
Perceives the form it wears to other eyesY
The proper level where its talents riseY
And ere returning to a different themeO2
Sinks a degree or two in self esteemO2
Then off it goes again with little costE2
Save that the multiplying wheel is lostE2
-
But if such sudden shock abate its forceY
Experience aids it by a slower courseY
Time spite of fools and flattery lets us seeY
Just what we are not what we thought to beY
Midway in life we pause compare with shameP2
Our present progress with our early aimP2
Look back on years with purpose high begunC2
In which the task intended was not doneC2
And see beyond us a declining sunC2
Fair opportunities for ever fledE2
The vigorous impulse dying if not deadE2
And we in knowledge habit temper stateE2
Nothing superior to the common rateE2
-
How false is found as on in life we goQ2
Our early estimate of bliss and woeQ2
Some sparkling joy attracts us that we fainD2
Would sell a precious birth right to obtainD2
There all our hopes of happiness are placedE2
Life looks without it like a joyless wasteE2
No good is prized no comfort sought besideE2
Prayers tears implore and will not be deniedE2
Heaven pitying hears the intemperate rude appealR2
And suits its answer to our truest wealR2
The self sought idol if at last bestowedE2
Proves what our wilfulness required a goadE2
Ne'er but as needful chastisement is givenC2
The wish thus forced and torn and stormed from HeavenC2
But if withheld in pity from our prayerM2
We rave awhile of torment and despairM2
Refuse each proffered comfort with disdainD2
And slight the thousand blessings that remainD2
Meantime Heaven bears the grievous wrong and waitsY
In patient pity till the storm abatesY
Applies with gentlest hand the healing balmS2
Or speaks the ruffled mind into a calmS2
Deigning perhaps to show the mourner soonT2
'Twas special mercy that denied the boonT2
-
Our blasted hopes our aims and wishes crostE2
Are worth the tears and agonies they costE2
When the poor mind by fruitless efforts spentE2
With food and raiment learns to be contentE2
Bounding with youthful hope the restless mindE2
Leaves that divine monition far behindE2
But tamed at length by suffering comprehendsY
The tranquil happiness to which it tendsY
Perceives the high wrought bliss it aimed to shareM2
Demands a richer soil a purer airM2
That 'tis not fitted and would strangely graceY
The mean cY

Jane Taylor



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