The Star's Monument Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B CDCECEFF G HIHIHIHH JKJKJKLL MNMNMNOO JPJPMPMM QMQMQMRR STSTSTUU VJVJVJWW JIJIXIL MYMYMYZA2 B2B2B2B2B2B2PC2 D2MD2MD2MJJ B2YB2YB2YB2B2 JKJKJKMM B2B2B2B2B2B2PP B2MB2MB2MMM ZB2ZB2ZB2E2E2 MB2MB2MB2B2B2 JD2JD2JD2XX F2B2F2B2F2B2MM MMMMMMMM B2ZB2ZB2ZMM G2B2G2B2G2B2JB2 MJJJJJG2G2 H2I2J2I2H2I2YZ B2B2B2B2B2B2K2K2 B2B2B2B2 B2L2 JB2JB2JB2YY B2JB2JB2JZZ YB2YB2YB2M2N2 JJJJJJB2B2 JZJZJZZZ JB2JB2JB2SS SH2SJ2SSB2B2 JO2JO2JO2P2P2 ZJZJZJJJ B2JB2JB2JJJ ZB2ZB2ZB2JJ B2ZB2ZB2ZJJ JZJZJZB2B2 SZSZSZB2B2 JXJXJXB2B2 OSOSOSJ B2P2B2Q2B2P2B2B2 ZWZCZWAA ZB2ZB2ZB2J KB2KB2KB2SS XR2XR2XR2XX J B2ZB2ZB2ZZZ SZSZSZZZ J B2B2B2B2B2B2SS B2ZB2ZB2ZL2L2 JS2JS2JS2JJ T2ZT2YT2YB2B2 J JZJZJZXX J SJSJSJZZ JZJZJZSS B2B2B2B2B2B2AA B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2 U2AU2AU2AV2V2 B2B2B2B2B2B2JJ B2B2B2B2B2B2ZZ JJJJJJZZ B2B2ZB2B2B2II YZZZZZJJ ISISISB2B2 ZAZAAZXX SB2SB2SB2YY ZB2ZB2ZB2SS B2B2B2B2B2B2ZZ B2ZB2ZB2ZB2B2 OB2OB2OB2ZZ ZXZXZXB2B2 B2B2B2B2B2B2ZZ X XZXZB2B2 SOSOSOL2L2 B2SB2SB2SZZ IZIZIZSS XJXJXJKK IJIJIJSS AYAYAYB2B2 B2SB2SB2SB2B2 ZSZSZSS B2OB2OB2OZZ ZJZJZJJJ B2ZB2ZB2ZB2B2 XB2XB2XB2SS ZB2ZB2ZB2JJ JB2JB2JB2S2S2 B2JB2JB2JL2L2 B2B2B2B2B2B2JJ

In The Concluding Part Of A Discourse On Fame	A
	-
	-
He thinks	B
	-
If there be memory in the world to come	C
If thought recur to SOME THINGS silenced here	D
Then shall the deep heart be no longer dumb	C
But find expression in that happier sphere	E
It shall not be denied their utmost sum	C
Of love to speak without or fault or fear	E
But utter to the harp with changes sweet	F
Words that forbidden still then heaven were incomplete	F
	-
He speaks	G
	-
Now let us talk about the ancient days	H
And things which happened long before our birth	I
It is a pity to lament that praise	H
Should be no shadow in the train of worth	I
What is it Madam that your heart dismays	H
Why murmur at the course of this vast earth	I
Think rather of the work than of the praise	H
Come we will talk about the ancient days	H
	-
There was a Poet Madam once said he	J
I will relate his story to you now	K
While through the branches of this apple tree	J
Some spots of sunshine flicker on your brow	K
While every flower hath on its breast a bee	J
And every bird in stirring doth endow	K
The grass with falling blooms that smoothly glide	L
As ships drop down a river with the tide	L
	-
For telling of his tale no fitter place	M
Then this old orchard sloping to the west	N
Through its pink dome of blossom I can trace	M
Some overlying azure for the rest	N
These flowery branches round us interlace	M
The ground is hollowed like a mossy nest	N
Who talks of fame while the religious Spring	O
Offers the incense of her blossoming	O
	-
There was a Poet Madam once said he	J
Who while he walked at sundown in a lane	P
Took to his heart the hope that destiny	J
Had singled him this guerdon to obtain	P
That by the power of his sweet minstrelsy	M
Some hearts for truth and goodness he should gain	P
And charm some grovellers to uplift their eyes	M
And suddenly wax conscious of the skies	M
	-
Master good e'en to ye a woodman said	Q
Who the low hedge was trimming with his shears	M
This hour is fine the Poet bowed his head	Q
More fine he thought O friend to me appears	M
The sunset than to you finer the spread	Q
Of orange lustre through these azure spheres	M
Where little clouds lie still like flocks of sheep	R
Or vessels sailing in God's other deep	R
	-
O finer far What work so high as mine	S
Interpreter betwixt the world and man	T
Nature's ungathered pearls to set and shrine	S
The mystery she wraps her in to scan	T
Her unsyllabic voices to combine	S
And serve her with such love as poets can	T
With mortal words her chant of praise to bind	U
Then die and leave the poem to mankind	U
	-
O fair O fine O lot to be desired	V
Early and late my heart appeals to me	J
And says 'O work O will Thou man be fired	V
To earn this lot ' she says 'I would not be	J
A worker for mine OWN bread or one hired	V
For mine OWN profit O I would be free	J
To work for others love so earned of them	W
Should be my wages and my diadem	W
	-
'Then when I died I should not fall ' says she	J
'Like dropping flowers that no man noticeth	I
But like a great branch of some stately tree	J
Rent in a tempest and flung down to death	I
Thick with green leafage so that piteously	X
Each passer by that ruin shuddereth	I
And saith The gap this branch hath left is wide	L
The loss thereof can never be supplied '	-
	-
But Madam while the Poet pondered so	M
Toward the leafy hedge he turned his eye	Y
And saw two slender branches that did grow	M
And from it rising spring and flourish high	Y
Their tops were twined together fast and lo	M
Their shadow crossed the path as he went by	Y
The shadow of a wild rose and a brier	Z
And it was shaped in semblance like a lyre	A2
	-
In sooth a lyre and as the soft air played	B2
Those branches stirred but did not disunite	B2
O emblem meet for me the Poet said	B2
Ay I accept and own thee for my right	B2
The shadowy lyre across my feet is laid	B2
Distinct though frail and clear with crimson light	B2
Fast is it twined to bear the windy strain	P
And supple it will bend and rise again	C2
	-
This lyre is cast across the dusty way	D2
The common path that common men pursue	M
I crave like blessing for my shadowy lay	D2
Life's trodden paths with beauty to renew	M
And cheer the eve of many a toil stained day	D2
Light it old sun wet it thou common dew	M
That 'neath men's feet its image still may be	J
While yet it waves above them living lyre like thee	J
	-
But even as the Poet spoke behold	B2
He lifted up his face toward the sky	Y
The ruddy sun dipt under the gray wold	B2
His shadowy lyre was gone and passing by	Y
The woodman lifting up his shears was bold	B2
Their temper on those branches twain to try	Y
And all their loveliness and leafage sweet	B2
Fell in the pathway at the Poet's feet	B2
	-
Ah my fair emblem that I chose quoth he	J
That for myself I coveted but now	K
Too soon methinks them hast been false to me	J
The lyre from pathway fades the light from brow	K
Then straightway turned he from it hastily	J
As dream that waking sense will disallow	K
And while the highway heavenward paled apace	M
He went on westward to his dwelling place	M
	-
He went on steadily while far and fast	B2
The summer darkness dropped upon the world	B2
A gentle air among the cloudlets passed	B2
And fanned away their crimson then it curled	B2
The yellow poppies in the field and cast	B2
A dimness on the grasses for it furled	B2
Their daisies and swept out the purple stain	P
That eve had left upon the pastoral plain	P
	-
He reached his city Lo the darkened street	B2
Where he abode was full of gazing crowds	M
He heard the muffled tread of many feet	B2
A multitude stood gazing at the clouds	M
What mark ye there said he and wherefore meet	B2
Only a passing mist the heaven o'ershrouds	M
It breaks it parts it drifts like scattered spars	M
What lies behind it but the nightly stars	M
	-
Then did the gazing crowd to him aver	Z
They sought a lamp in heaven whose light was hid	B2
For that in sooth an old Astronomer	Z
Down from his roof had rushed into their mid	B2
Frighted and fain with others to confer	Z
That he had cried O sirs and upward bid	B2
Them gaze O sirs a light is quenched afar	E2
Look up my masters we have lost a star	E2
	-
The people pointed and the Poet's eyes	M
Flew upward where a gleaming sisterhood	B2
Swam in the dewy heaven The very skies	M
Were mutable for all amazed he stood	B2
To see that truly not in any wise	M
He could behold them as of old nor could	B2
His eyes receive the whole whereof he wot	B2
But when he told them over one WAS NOT	B2
	-
While yet he gazed and pondered reverently	J
The fickle folk began to move away	D2
It is but one star less for us to see	J
And what does one star signify quoth they	D2
The heavens are full of them But ah said he	J
That star was bright while yet she lasted Ay	D2
They answered Praise her Poet an' ye will	X
Some are now shining that are brighter still	X
	-
Poor star to be disparag d so soon	F2
On her withdrawal thus the Poet sighed	B2
That men should miss and straight deny her noon	F2
Its brightness But the people in their pride	B2
Said How are we beholden 'twas no boon	F2
She gave Her nature 'twas to shine so wide	B2
She could not choose but shine nor could we know	M
Such star had ever dwelt in heaven but so	M
	-
The Poet answered sadly That is true	M
And then he thought upon unthankfulness	M
While some went homeward and the residue	M
Reflecting that the stars are numberless	M
Mourned that man's daylight hours should be so few	M
So short the shining that his path may bless	M
To nearer themes then tuned their willing lips	M
And thought no more upon the star's eclipse	M
	-
But he the Poet could not rest content	B2
Till he had found that old Astronomer	Z
Therefore at midnight to his house he went	B2
And prayed him be his tale's interpreter	Z
And yet upon the heaven his eyes he bent	B2
Hearing the marvel yet he sought for her	Z
That was a wanting in the hope her face	M
Once more might fill its reft abiding place	M
	-
Then said the old Astronomer My son	G2
I sat alone upon my roof to night	B2
I saw the stars come forth and scarcely shun	G2
To fringe the edges of the western light	B2
I marked those ancient clusters one by one	G2
The same that blessed our old forefather's sight	B2
For God alone is older none but He	J
Can charge the stars with mutability	B2
	-
The elders of the night the steadfast stars	M
The old old stars which God has let us see	J
That they might be our soul's auxiliars	J
And help us to the truth how young we be	J
God's youngest latest born as if some spars	J
And a little clay being over of them He	J
Had made our world and us thereof yet given	G2
To humble us the sight of His great heaven	G2
	-
But ah my son to night mine eyes have seen	H2
The death of light the end of old renown	I2
A shrinking back of glory that had been	J2
A dread eclipse before the Eternal's frown	I2
How soon a little grass will grow between	H2
These eyes and those appointed to look down	I2
Upon a world that was not made on high	Y
Till the last scenes of their long empiry	Z
	-
To night that shining cluster now despoiled	B2
Lay in day's wake a perfect sisterhood	B2
Sweet was its light to me that long had toiled	B2
It gleamed and trembled o'er the distant wood	B2
Blown in a pile the clouds from it recoiled	B2
Cool twilight up the sky her way made good	B2
I saw but not believed it was so strange	K2
That one of those same stars had suffered change	K2
	-
The darkness gathered and methought she spread	B2
Wrapped in a reddish haze that waxed and waned	B2
But notwithstanding to myself I said	B2
'The stars are changeless sure some mote hath stained	B2
Mine eyes and her fair glory minish d '	-
Of age and failing vision I complained	B2
And I bought 'some vapor in the heavens doth swim	L2
That makes her look so large and yet so dim '	-
	-
But I gazed round and all her lustrous peers	J
In her red presence showed but wan and white	B2
For like a living coal beheld through tears	J
She glowed and quivered with a gloomy light	B2
Methought she trembled as all sick through fears	J
Helpless appalled appealing to the night	B2
Like one who throws his arms up to the sky	Y
And bows down suffering hopeless of reply	Y
	-
At length as if an everlasting Hand	B2
Had taken hold upon her in her place	J
And swiftly like a golden grain of sand	B2
Through all the deep infinitudes of space	J
Was drawing her God's truth as here I stand	B2
Backward and inward to itself her face	J
Fast lessened lessened till it looked no more	Z
Than smallest atom on a boundless shore	Z
	-
And she that was so fair I saw her lie	Y
The smallest thing in God's great firmament	B2
Till night was lit the darkest and on high	Y
Her sisters glittered though her light was spent	B2
I strained to follow her each aching eye	Y
So swiftly at her Maker's will she went	B2
I looked again I looked the star was gone	M2
And nothing marked in heaven where she had shone	N2
	-
Gone said the Poet and about to be	J
Forgotten O how sad a fate is hers	J
How is it sad my son all reverently	J
The old man answered though she ministers	J
No longer with her lamp to me and thee	J
She has fulfilled her mission God transfers	J
Or dims her ray yet was she blest as bright	B2
For all her life was spent in giving light	B2
	-
Her mission she fulfilled assuredly	J
The Poet cried but O unhappy star	Z
None praise and few will bear in memory	J
The name she went by O from far from far	Z
Comes down methinks her mournful voice to me	J
Full of regrets that men so thankless are	Z
So said he told that old Astronomer	Z
All that the gazing crowd had said of her	Z
	-
And he went on to speak in bitter wise	J
As one who seems to tell another's fate	B2
But feels that nearer meaning underlies	J
And points its sadness to his own estate	B2
If such be the reward he said with sighs	J
Envy to earn for love for goodness hate	B2
If such be thy reward hard case is thine	S
It had been better for thee not to shine	S
	-
If to reflect a light that is divine	S
Makes that which doth reflect it better seen	H2
And if to see is to contemn the shrine	S
'Twere surely better it had never been	J2
It had been better for her NOT TO SHINE	S
And for me NOT TO SING Better I ween	S
For us to yield no more that radiance bright	B2
For them to lack the light than scorn the light	B2
	-
Strange words were those from Poet lips said he	J
And then he paused and sighed and turned to look	O2
Upon the lady's downcast eyes and see	J
How fast the honey bees in settling shook	O2
Those apple blossoms on her from the tree	J
He watched her busy lingers as they took	O2
And slipped the knotted thread and thought how much	P2
He would have given that hand to hold to touch	P2
	-
At length as suddenly become aware	Z
Of this long pause she lifted up her face	J
And he withdrew his eyes she looked so fair	Z
And cold he thought in her unconscious grace	J
Ah little dreams she of the restless care	Z
He thought that makes my heart to throb apace	J
Though we this morning part the knowledge sends	J
No thrill to her calm pulse we are but FRIENDS	J
	-
Ah turret clock he thought I would thy hand	B2
Were hid behind yon towering maple trees	J
Ah tell tale shadow but one moment stand	B2
Dark shadow fast advancing to my knees	J
Ah foolish heart he thought that vainly planned	B2
By feigning gladness to arrive at ease	J
Ah painful hour yet pain to think it ends	J
I must remember that we are but friends	J
	-
And while the knotted thread moved to and fro	Z
In sweet regretful tones that lady said	B2
It seemeth that the fame you would forego	Z
The Poet whom you tell of coveted	B2
But I would fain methinks his story know	Z
And was he loved said she or was he wed	B2
And had he friends One friend perhaps said he	J
But for the rest I pray you let it be	J
	-
Ah little bird he thought most patient bird	B2
Breasting thy speckled eggs the long day through	Z
By so much as my reason is preferred	B2
Above thine instinct I my work would do	Z
Better than thou dost thine Thou hast not stirred	B2
This hour thy wing Ah russet bird I sue	Z
For a like patience to wear through these hours	J
Bird on thy nest among the apple flowers	J
	-
I will not speak I will not speak to thee	J
My star and soon to be my lost lost star	Z
The sweetest first that ever shone on me	J
So high above me and beyond so far	Z
I can forego thee but not bear to see	J
My love like rising mist thy lustre mar	Z
That were a base return for thy sweet light	B2
Shine though I never more shall see that thou art bright	B2
	-
Never 'Tis certain that no hope is none	S
No hope for me and yet for thee no fear	Z
The hardest part of my hard task is done	S
Thy calm assures me that I am not dear	Z
Though far and fast the rapid moments run	S
Thy bosom heaveth not thine eyes are clear	Z
Silent perhaps a little sad at heart	B2
She is I am her friend and I depart	B2
	-
Silent she had been but she raised her face	J
And will you end said she this half told tale	X
Yes it were best he answered her The place	J
Where I left off was where he felt to fail	X
His courage Madam through the fancy base	J
That they who love endure or work may rail	X
And cease if all their love the works they wrought	B2
And their endurance men have set at nought	B2
	-
It had been better for me NOT to sing	O
My Poet said and for her NOT to shine	S
But him the old man answered sorrowing	O
My son did God who made her the Divine	S
Lighter of suns when down to yon bright ring	O
He cast her like some gleaming almandine	S
And set her in her place begirt with rays	J
Say unto her 'Give light ' or say 'Earn praise '	-
	-
The Poet said He made her to give light	B2
My son the old man answered Blest are such	P2
A blessed lot is theirs but if each night	B2
Mankind had praised her radiance inasmuch	Q2
As praise had never made it wax more bright	B2
And cannot now rekindle with its touch	P2
Her lost effulgence it is nought I wot	B2
That praise was not her blessing nor her lot	B2
	-
Ay said the Poet I my words abjure	Z
And I repent me that I uttered them	W
But by her light and by its forfeiture	Z
She shall not pass without her requiem	C
Though my name perish yet shall hers endure	Z
Though I should be forgotten she lost gem	W
Shall be remembered though she sought not fame	A
It shall be busy with her beauteous name	A
	-
For I will raise in her bright memory	Z
Lost now on earth a lasting monument	B2
And graven on it shall recorded be	Z
That all her rays to light mankind were spent	B2
And I will sing albeit none heedeth me	Z
On her exemplar being still intent	B2
While in men's sight shall stand the record thus	J
'So long as she did last she lighted us '	-
	-
So said he raised according to his vow	K
On the green grass where oft his townsfolk met	B2
Under the shadow of a leafy bough	K
That leaned toward a singing rivulet	B2
One pure white stone whereon like crown on brow	K
The image of the vanished star was set	B2
And this was graven on the pure white stone	S
In golden letters WHILE SHE LIVED SHE SHONE	S
	-
Madam I cannot give this story well	X
My heart is beating to another chime	R2
My voice must needs a different cadence swell	X
It is yon singing bird which all the time	R2
Wooeth his nested mate that doth dispel	X
My thoughts What deem you could a lover's rhyme	R2
The sweetness of that passionate lay excel	X
O soft O low her voice I cannot tell	X
	-
He thinks	J
	-
The old man ay he spoke he was not hard	B2
She was his joy he said his comforter	Z
But he would trust me I was not debarred	B2
Whate'er my heart approved to say to her	Z
Approved O torn and tempted and ill starred	B2
And breaking heart approve not nor demur	Z
It is the serpent that beguileth thee	Z
With God doth know beneath this apple tree	Z
	-
Yea God DOTH know and only God doth know	S
Have pity God my spirit groans to Thee	Z
I bear Thy curse primeval and I go	S
But heavier than on Adam falls on me	Z
My tillage of the wilderness for lo	S
I leave behind the woman and I see	Z
As 'twere the gates of Eden closing o'er	Z
To hide her from my sight for evermore	Z
	-
He speaks	J
	-
I am a fool with sudden start he cried	B2
To let the song bird work me such unrest	B2
If I break off again I pray you chide	B2
For morning neeteth with my tale at best	B2
Half told That white stone Madam gleamed beside	B2
The little rivulet and all men pressed	B2
To read the lost one's story traced thereon	S
The golden legend While she lived she shone	S
	-
And Madam when the Poet heard them read	B2
And children spell the letters softly through	Z
It may be that he felt at heart some need	B2
Some craving to be thus remembered too	Z
It may be that he wondered if indeed	B2
He must die wholly when he passed from view	Z
It may be wished when death his eyes made dim	L2
That some kind hand would raise such stone for him	L2
	-
But shortly as there comes to most of us	J
There came to him the need to quit his home	S2
To tell you why were simply hazardous	J
What said I Madam men were made to roam	S2
My meaning is It hath been always thus	J
They are athirst for mountains and sea foam	S2
Heirs of this world what wonder if perchance	J
They long to see their grand inheritance	J
	-
He left his city and went forth to teach	T2
Mankind his peers the hidden harmony	Z
That underlies God's discords and to reach	T2
And touch the master string that like a sigh	Y
Thrills in their souls as if it would beseech	T2
Some hand to sound it and to satisfy	Y
Its yearning for expression but no word	B2
Till poet touch it hath to make its music heard	B2
	-
He thinks	J
	-
I know that God is good though evil dwells	J
Among us and doth all things holiest share	Z
That there is joy in heaven while yet our knells	J
Sound for the souls which He has summoned there	Z
That painful love unsatisfied hath spells	J
Earned by its smart to soothe its fellows care	Z
But yet this atom cannot in the whole	X
Forget itself it aches a separate soul	X
	-
He speaks	J
	-
But Madam to my Poet I return	S
With his sweet cadences of woven words	J
He made their rude untutored hearts to burn	S
And melt like gold refined No brooding birds	J
Sing better of the love that doth sojourn	S
Hid in the nest of home which softly girds	J
The beating heart of life and strait though it be	Z
Is straitness better than wide liberty	Z
	-
He taught them and they learned but not the less	J
Remained unconscious whence that lore they drew	Z
But dreamed that of their native nobleness	J
Some lofty thoughts that he had planted grew	Z
His glorious maxims in a lowly dress	J
Like seed sown broadcast sprung in all men's view	Z
The sower passing onward was not known	S
And all men reaped the harvest as their own	S
	-
It may be Madam that those ballads sweet	B2
Whose rhythmic words we sang but yesterday	B2
Which time and changes make not obsolete	B2
But as a river blossoms bears away	B2
That on it drop take with them while they fleet	B2
It may be his they are from him bear sway	B2
But who can tell since work surviveth fame	A
The rhyme is left but lost the Poet's name	A
	-
He worked and bravely he fulfilled his trust	B2
So long he wandered sowing worthy seed	B2
Watering of wayside buds that were adust	B2
And touching for the common ear his reed	B2
So long to wear away the cankering rust	B2
That dulls the gold of life so long to plead	B2
With sweetest music for all souls oppressed	B2
That he was old ere he had thought of rest	B2
	-
Old and gray headed leaning on a staff	U2
To that great city of his birth he came	A
And at its gates he paused with wondering laugh	U2
To think how changed were all his thoughts of fame	A
Since first he carved the golden epitaph	U2
To keep in memory a worthy name	A
And thought forgetfulness had been its doom	V2
But for a few bright letters on a tomb	V2
	-
The old Astronomer had long since died	B2
The friends of youth were gone and far dispersed	B2
Strange were the domes that rose on every side	B2
Strange fountains on his wondering vision burst	B2
The men of yesterday their business plied	B2
No face was left that he had known at first	B2
And in the city gardens lo he sees	J
The saplings that he set are stately trees	J
	-
Upon the grass beneath their welcome shade	B2
Behold he marks the fair white monument	B2
And on its face the golden words displayed	B2
For sixty years their lustre have not spent	B2
He sitteth by it and is not afraid	B2
But in its shadow he is well content	B2
And envies not though bright their gleamings are	Z
The golden letters of the vanished star	Z
	-
He gazeth up exceeding bright appears	J
That golden legend to his aged eyes	J
For they are dazzled till they fill with tears	J
And his lost Youth doth like a vision rise	J
She saith to him In all these toilsome years	J
What hast thou won by work or enterprise	J
What hast thou won to make amends to thee	Z
As thou didst swear to do for loss of me	Z
	-
O man O white haired man the vision said	B2
Since we two sat beside this monument	B2
Life's clearest hues are all evanish d	Z
The golden wealth thou hadst of me is spent	B2
The wind hath swept thy flowers their leaves are shed	B2
The music is played out that with thee went	B2
Peace peace he cried I lost thee but in truth	I
There are worse losses than the loss of youth	I
	-
He said not what those losses were but I	Y
But I must leave them for the time draws near	Z
Some lose not ONLY joy but memory	Z
Of how it felt not love that was so dear	Z
Lose only but the steadfast certainty	Z
That once they had it doubt comes on then fear	Z
And after that despondency I wis	J
The Poet must have meant such loss as this	J
	-
But while he sat and pondered on his youth	I
He said It did one deed that doth remain	S
For it preserved the memory and the truth	I
Of her that now doth neither set nor wane	S
But shine in all men's thought nor sink forsooth	I
And be forgotten like the summer rain	S
O it is good that man should not forget	B2
Or benefits foregone or brightness set	B2
	-
He spoke and said My lot contented me	Z
I am right glad for this her worthy fame	A
That which was good and great I fain would see	Z
Drawn with a halo round what rests its name	A
This while the Poet said behold there came	A
A workman with his tools anear the tree	Z
And when he read the words he paused awhile	X
And pondered on them with a wondering smile	X
	-
And then he said I pray you Sir what mean	S
The golden letters of this monument	B2
In wonder quoth the Poet Hast thou been	S
A dweller near at hand and their intent	B2
Hast neither heard by voice of fame nor seen	S
The marble earlier Ay said he and leant	B2
Upon his spade to hear the tale then sigh	Y
And say it was a marvel and pass by	Y
	-
Then said the Poet This is strange to me	Z
But as he mused with trouble in his mind	B2
A band of maids approached him leisurely	Z
Like vessels sailing with a favoring wind	B2
And of their rosy lips requested he	Z
As one that for a doubt would solving find	B2
The tale if tale there were of that white stone	S
And those fair letters While she lived she shone	S
	-
Then like a fleet that floats becalmed they stay	B2
O Sir saith one this monument is old	B2
But we have heard our virtuous mothers say	B2
That by their mothers thus the tale was told	B2
A Poet made it journeying then away	B2
He left us and though some the meaning hold	B2
For other than the ancient one yet we	Z
Receive this legend for a certainty	Z
	-
There was a lily once most purely white	B2
Beneath the shadow of these boughs it grew	Z
Its starry blossom it unclosed by night	B2
And a young Poet loved its shape and hue	Z
He watched it nightly 'twas so fair a sight	B2
Until a stormy wind arose and blew	Z
And when he came once more his flower to greet	B2
Its fallen petals drifted to his feet	B2
	-
And for his beautiful white lily's sake	O
That she might be remembered where her scent	B2
Had been right sweet he said that he would make	O
In her dear memory a monument	B2
For she was purer than a driven flake	O
Of snow and in her grace most excellent	B2
The loveliest life that death did ever mar	Z
As beautiful to gaze on as a star	Z
	-
I thank you maid the Poet answered her	Z
And I am glad that I have heard your tale	X
With that they passed and as an inlander	Z
Having heard breakers raging in a gale	X
And falling down in thunder will aver	Z
That still when far away in grassy vale	X
He seems to hear those seething waters bound	B2
So in his ears the maiden's voice did sound	B2
	-
He leaned his face upon his hand and thought	B2
And thought until a youth came by that way	B2
And once again of him the Poet sought	B2
The story of the star But well a day	B2
He said The meaning with much doubt is fraught	B2
The sense thereof can no man surely say	B2
For still tradition sways the common ear	Z
That of a truth a star DID DISAPPEAR	Z
	-
But they who look beneath the outer shell	X
That wraps the 'kernel of the people's lore '	-
Hold THAT for superstition and they tell	X
That seven lovely sisters dwelt of yore	Z
In this old city where it so befell	X
That one a Poet loved that furthermore	Z
As stars above us she was pure and good	B2
And fairest of that beauteous sisterhood	B2
	-
So beautiful they were those virgins seven	S
That all men called them clustered stars in song	O
Forgetful that the stars abide in heaven	S
But woman bideth not beneath it long	O
For O alas alas one fated even	S
When stars their azure deeps began to throng	O
That virgin's eyes of Poet loved waxed dim	L2
And all their lustrous shining waned to him	L2
	-
In summer dusk she drooped her head and sighed	B2
Until what time the evening star went down	S
And all the other stars did shining bide	B2
Clear in the lustre of their old renown	S
And then the virgin laid her down and died	B2
Forgot her youth forgot her beauty's crown	S
Forgot the sisters whom she loved before	Z
And broke her Poet's heart for evermore	Z
	-
A mournful tale in sooth the lady saith	I
But did he truly grieve for evermore	Z
It may be you forget he answereth	I
That this is but a fable at the core	Z
O' the other fable Though it be but breath	I
She asketh was it true then he This lore	Z
Since it is fable either way may go	S
Then if it please you think it might be so	S
	-
Nay but she saith if I had told your tale	X
The virgin should have lived his home to bless	J
Or must she die I would have made to fail	X
His useless love I tell you not the less	J
He sighs because it was of no avail	X
His heart the Poet would not dispossess	J
Thereof But let us leave the fable now	K
My Poet heard it with an aching brow	K
	-
And he made answer thus I thank thee youth	I
Strange is thy story to these aged ears	J
But I bethink me thou hast told a truth	I
Under the guise of fable If my tears	J
Thou lost belov d star lost now forsooth	I
Indeed could bring thee back among thy peers	J
So new thou should'st be deemed as newly seen	S
For men forget that thou hast ever been	S
	-
There was a morning when I longed for fame	A
There was a noontide when I passed it by	Y
There is an evening when I think not shame	A
Its substance and its being to deny	Y
For if men bear in mind great deeds the name	A
Of him that wrought them shall they leave to die	Y
Or if his name they shall have deathless writ	B2
They change the deeds that first ennobled it	B2
	-
O golden letters of this monument	B2
O words to celebrate a loved renown	S
Lost now or wrested and to fancies lent	B2
Or on a fabled forehead set for crown	S
For my departed star I am content	B2
Though legends dim and years her memory drown	S
For nought were fame to her compared and set	B2
By this great truth which ye make lustrous yet	B2
	-
Adieu the Poet said my vanished star	Z
Thy duty and thy happiness were one	S
Work is heaven's best its fame is sublunar	Z
The fame thou dost not need the work is done	S
For thee I am content that these things are	Z
More than content were I my race being run	S
Might it be true of me though none thereon	S
Should muse regretful 'While he lived he shone '	-
	-
So said the Poet rose and went his way	B2
And that same lot he proved whereof he spake	O
Madam my story is told out the day	B2
Draws out her shadows time doth overtake	O
The morning That which endeth call a lay	B2
Sung after pause a motto in the break	O
Between two chapters of a tale not new	Z
Nor joyful but a common tale Adieu	Z
	-
And that same God who made your face so fair	Z
And gave your woman's heart its tenderness	J
So shield the blessing He implanted there	Z
That it may never turn to your distress	J
And never cost you trouble or despair	Z
Nor granted leave the granter comfortless	J
But like a river blest where'er it flows	J
Be still receiving while it still bestows	J
	-
Adieu he said and paused while she sat mute	B2
In the soft shadow of the apple tree	Z
The skylark's song rang like a joyous flute	B2
The brook went prattling past her restlessly	Z
She let their tongues be her tongue's substitute	B2
It was the wind that sighed it was not she	Z
And what the lark the brook the wind had said	B2
We cannot tell for none interpreted	B2
	-
Their counsels might be hard to reconcile	X
They might not suit the moment or the spot	B2
She rose and laid her work aside the while	X
Down in the sunshine of that grassy plot	B2
She looked upon him with an almost smile	X
And held to him a hand that faltered not	B2
One moment bird and brook went warbling on	S
And the wind sighed again and he was gone	S
	-
So quietly as if she heard no more	Z
Or skylark in the azure overhead	B2
Or water slipping past the cressy shore	Z
Or wind that rose in sighs and sighing fled	B2
So quietly until the alders hoar	Z
Took him beneath them till the downward spread	B2
Of planes engulfed him in their leafy seas	J
She stood beneath her rose flushed apple trees	J
	-
And then she stooped toward the mossy grass	J
And gathered up her work and went her way	B2
Straight to that ancient turret she did pass	J
And startle back some fawns that were at play	B2
She did not sigh she never said Alas	J
Although he was her friend but still that day	B2
Where elm and hornbeam spread a towering dome	S2
She crossed the dells to her ancestral home	S2
	-
And did she love him what if she did not	B2
Then home was still the home of happiest years	J
Nor thought was exiled to partake his lot	B2
Nor heart lost courage through forboding fears	J
Nor echo did against her secret plot	B2
Nor music her betray to painful tears	J
Nor life become a dream and sunshine dim	L2
And riches poverty because of him	L2
	-
But did she love him what and if she did	B2
Love cannot cool the burning Austral sand	B2
Nor show the secret waters that lie hid	B2
In arid valleys of that desert land	B2
Love has no spells can scorching winds forbid	B2
Or bring the help which tarries near to hand	B2
Or spread a cloud for curtaining faded eyes	J
That gaze up dying into alien skies	J

Jean Ingelow

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