His Shield Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCABC DEFDEF GHIJHI KLEKLE MNLONL| The pin swin or spine swine | A |
| the edgehog miscalled hedgehog with all his edges out | B |
| echidna and echinoderm in distressed | C |
| pin cushion thorn fur coats the spiny pig or porcupine | A |
| the rhino with horned snout | B |
| everything is battle dressed | C |
| - | |
| Pig fur won t do I ll wrap | D |
| myself in salamander skin like Presbyter John | E |
| A lizard in the midst of flames a firebrand | F |
| that is life asbestos eyed asbestos eared with tattooed nap | D |
| and permanent pig on | E |
| the instep he can withstand | F |
| - | |
| fire and won t drown In his | G |
| unconquerable country of unpompous gusto | H |
| gold was so common none considered it greed | I |
| and flattery were unknown Though rubies large as tennis | J |
| balls conjoined in streams so | H |
| that the mountain seemed to bleed | I |
| - | |
| the inextinguishable | K |
| salamander styled himself but presbyter His shield | L |
| was his humility In Carpasian | E |
| linen coat flanked by his household lion cubs and sable | K |
| retinue he revealed | L |
| a formula safer than | E |
| - | |
| an armorer s the power of relinquishing | M |
| what one would keep that is freedom Become dinosaur | N |
| skulled quilled or salamander wooled more ironshod | L |
| and javelin dressed than a hedgehog battalion of steel but be | O |
| dull Don t be envied or | N |
| armed with a measuring rod | L |
Marianne Moore
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about His Shield poem by Marianne Moore
Best Poems of Marianne Moore