My Last Dance Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBBCBDBEFGFBHBHBDIJ KLBL BEME BNON PQBQ RBSB BBTB BUV| The shell of objects inwardly consumed | A |
| Will stand till some convulsive wind awakes | B |
| Such sense hath Fire to waste the heart of things | B |
| Nature such love to hold the form she makes | B |
| Thus wasted joys will show their early bloom | C |
| Yet crumble at the breath of a caress | B |
| The golden fruitage hides the scath d bough | D |
| Snatch it thou scatterest wide its emptiness | B |
| For pleasure bidden I went forth last night | E |
| To where thick hung the festal torches gleamed | F |
| Here were the flowers the music as of old | G |
| Almost the very olden time it seemed | F |
| For one with cheek unfaded though he brings | B |
| My buried brothers to me in his look | H |
| Said Will you dance ' At the accustomed words | B |
| I gave my hand the old position took | H |
| Sound gladsome measure at whose bidding once | B |
| I felt the flush of pleasure to my brow | D |
| While my soul shook the burthen of the flesh | I |
| And in its young pride said Lie lightly thou ' | J |
| - | |
| Then like a gallant swimmer flinging high | K |
| My breast against the golden waves of sound | L |
| I rode the madd'ning tumult of the dance | B |
| Mocking fatigue that never could be found | L |
| - | |
| Chide not it was not vanity nor sense | B |
| The brutish scorn such vaporous delight | E |
| But Nature cadencing her joy of strength | M |
| To the harmonious limits of her right | E |
| - | |
| She gave her impulse to the dancing Hours | B |
| To winds that sweep to stars that noiseless turn | N |
| She marked the measure rapid hearts must keep | O |
| Devised each pace that glancing feet should learn | N |
| - | |
| And sure that prodigal o'erflow of life | P |
| Unvow'd as yet to family or state | Q |
| Sweet sounds white garments flowery coronals | B |
| Make holy in the pageant of our fate | Q |
| - | |
| Sound measure but to stir my heart no more | R |
| For as I moved to join the dizzy race | B |
| My youth fell from me all its blooms were gone | S |
| And others showed them smiling in my face | B |
| - | |
| Faintly I met the shock of circling forms | B |
| Linked each to other Fashion's galley slaves | B |
| Dream wondering like an unaccustomed ghost | T |
| That starts surprised to stumble over graves | B |
| - | |
| For graves were 'neath my feet whose placid masks | B |
| Smiled out upon my folly mournfully | U |
| While all the host of the departed said | V |
| Tread lightly thou art ashes even as we ' | - |
Julia Ward Howe
(1)
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