Isola Comacina Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCDE FGFGHH IGIGJK LMLMNN OPOPQQ MIMIRN STSTUU VWVWXX QYQYGG ZA2ZA2B2B2 HC2HC2D2D2 E2F2E2F2G2G2 ZH2ZH2I2I2 J2K2J2K2H2H2 HL2HL2H2H2 M2PM2PHHThe only Island on Lake Como the Lake Larius of the Romans | A |
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There sleeps beneath Italian skies | B |
A lovely island rich in fame | C |
In days of old a longed for prize | B |
And bearing still an honored name | C |
A spot renowned from age to age | D |
An ancient Roman heritage | E |
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A valued stronghold for whose sake | F |
Unnumbered men have fought and died | G |
The Malta of the Larian lake | F |
Forever armed and fortified | G |
To Como's shores the master key | H |
The guardian of its liberty | H |
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Half hidden in a sheltered bay | I |
Where tiny skiffs at anchor ride | G |
How different is the scene to day | I |
Reflected in its waveless tide | G |
From that which this historic foss | J |
Showed mailed soldiers of the Cross | K |
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Yet still across the narrow strait | L |
Some remnants of the hospice stand | M |
Whose ever hospitable gate | L |
Met pilgrims from the Holy Land | M |
Its finely carved millennial tower | N |
Enduring to the present hour | N |
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One gem alone doth Como wear | O |
None other need adorn her breast | P |
'Tis this her emerald solitaire | O |
Her unique island of the blest | P |
The star beside her crescent shore | Q |
A thing of beauty evermore | Q |
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On Comacina's peaceful strand | M |
The coldest heart is moved to pray | I |
As softly steals o'er lake and land | M |
The splendor of departing day | I |
And scores of snowy peaks aspire | R |
To sparkle with supernal fire | N |
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Then Lario paints for liquid miles | S |
The white robed monarchs' glittering crowns | T |
Transmutes at once to dimpled smiles | S |
The sternest of their glacial frowns | T |
And often holds with subtlest art | U |
Some Titan's likeness to her heart | U |
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Fair Comacina through whose trees | V |
Earth's feathered songsters flit unharmed | W |
Where soft eyed cattle graze at ease | V |
And every whispering breeze seems charmed | W |
Can it be true that human blood | X |
Hath ever stained thy limpid flood | X |
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Alas too often drenched with gore | Q |
Thy cliffs have witnessed deadly strife | Y |
When hostile feet profaned thy shore | Q |
And each advancing step cost life | Y |
As prince and peasant side by side | G |
Beat back the Goths' invading tide | G |
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But why disturb the silent past | Z |
Why rouse the island's sleeping ghosts | A2 |
Or see in forms by ruins cast | Z |
The phantoms of those warlike hosts | A2 |
For centuries the gentle waves | B2 |
Have rolled oblivion o'er their graves | B2 |
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And what will now thy future be | H |
Thou pristine refuge of the brave | C2 |
Which Rome's last heroes fought to free | H |
And vainly gave their lives to save | C2 |
Forget not thou wast once a gem | D2 |
That graced a Caesar's diadem | D2 |
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Wilt thou fulfil my fondest hopes | E2 |
I sometimes long to check the stream | F2 |
Of tourists hurrying by thy slopes | E2 |
And tell them of my cherished dream | F2 |
To see upon thy storied height | G2 |
A palace worthy of the site | G2 |
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Not meaningless not merely vast | Z |
Nor crudely modern in design | H2 |
But something suited to thy past | Z |
For highest art a hallowed shrine | H2 |
A classic home of long ago | I2 |
The Tusculum of Cicero | I2 |
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Then roses rich in sweet perfume | J2 |
Shall wreathe with bloom each terraced wall | K2 |
And scattered through the leafy gloom | J2 |
Of olive groves and laurels tall | K2 |
Shall many a marble nymph and faun | H2 |
Grow lovelier from the flush of dawn | H2 |
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So let me dream I may not see | H |
That stately palace crown thy brow | L2 |
Those roses may not bloom for me | H |
But as thou art I love thee now | L2 |
Content thy future to resign | H2 |
To abler portraiture than mine | H2 |
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Sweet Comacina fare thee well | M2 |
Across the water's placid breast | P |
The music of the vesper bell | M2 |
Invites me to my port of rest | P |
Fair jewel of this inland sea | H |
May all the gods be good to thee | H |
John L. Stoddard
(1)
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