Elegy Viii: The Comparison Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCDDDDEECCFFGG DHIIDDCCFFDDFFJJKKLM NNOOPQRRSSTUDDDDDD| As the sweet sweat of roses in a still | A |
| As that which from chafed musk cats' pores doth trill | A |
| As the almighty balm of th' early East | B |
| Such are the sweat drops of my mistress' breast | C |
| And on her brow her skin such lustre sets | D |
| They seem no sweat drops but pearl coronets | D |
| Rank sweaty froth thy Mistress's brow defiles | D |
| Like spermatic issue of ripe menstruous boils | D |
| Or like the scum which by need's lawless law | E |
| Enforced Sanserra's starved men did draw | E |
| From parboiled shoes and boots and all the rest | C |
| Which were with any sovereigne fatness blest | C |
| And like vile lying stones in saffroned tin | F |
| Or warts or weals they hang upon her skin | F |
| Round as the world's her head on every side | G |
| Like to the fatal ball which fell on Ide | G |
| - | |
| Or that whereof God had such jealousy | D |
| As for the ravishing thereof we die | H |
| Thy head is like a rough hewn statue of jet | I |
| Where marks for eyes nose mouth are yet scarce set | I |
| Like the first Chaos or flat seeming face | D |
| Of Cynthia when th' earth's shadows her embrace | D |
| Like Proserpine's white beauty keeping chest | C |
| Or Jove's best fortunes urn is her fair breast | C |
| Thine's like worm eaten trunks clothed in seals' skin | F |
| Or grave that's dust without and stink within | F |
| And like that slender stalk at whose end stands | D |
| The woodbine quivering are her arms and hands | D |
| Like rough barked elm boughs or the russet skin | F |
| Of men late scourged for madness or for sin | F |
| Like sun parched quarters on the city gate | J |
| Such is thy tanned skin's lamentable state | J |
| And like a bunch of ragged carrots stand | K |
| The short swol'n fingers of thy gouty hand | K |
| Then like the Chimic's masculine equal fire | L |
| Which in the Lymbecks warm womb doth inspire | M |
| Into th' earth's worthless dirt a soul of gold | N |
| Such cherishing heat her best loved part doth hold | N |
| Thine's like the dread mouth of a fired gun | O |
| Or like hot liquid metals newly run | O |
| Into clay moulds or like to that Etna | P |
| Where round about the grass is burnt away | Q |
| Are not your kisses then as filthy and more | R |
| As a worm sucking an envenomed sore | R |
| Doth not thy feareful hand in feeling quake | S |
| As one which gath'ring flowers still fears a snake | S |
| Is not your last act harsh and violent | T |
| As when a plough a stony ground doth rent | U |
| So kiss good turtles so devoutly nice | D |
| Are priests in handling reverent sacrifice | D |
| And such in searching wounds the surgeon is | D |
| As we when we embrace or touch or kiss | D |
| Leave her and I will leave comparing thus | D |
| She and comparisons are odious | D |
John Donne
(1)
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About Elegy Viii: The Comparison
Elegy Viii: The Comparison is a poem by John Donne. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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