Memorial Verses Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBC DDEEFFGHH IIJKLMLN OOHHPPQQQRS TTUUBCVVCCWXXYZZA2 A2B2C2IIII IID2D2OOPE2PE2VE2F2 G2G2H2I2 E2

Goethe in Weimar sleeps and GreeceA
Long since saw Byron's struggle ceaseA
But one such death remain'd to comeB
The last poetic voice is dumbB
We stand to day by Wordsworth's tombC
-
When Byron's eyes were shut in deathD
We bow'd our head and held our breathD
He taught us little but our soulE
Had felt him like the thunder's rollE
With shivering heart the strife we sawF
Of passion with eternal lawF
And yet with reverential aweG
We watch'd the fount of fiery lifeH
Which served for that Titanic strifeH
-
When Goethe's death was told we saidI
Sunk then is Europe's sagest headI
Physician of the iron ageJ
Goethe has done his pilgrimageK
He took the suffering human raceL
He read each wound each weakness clearM
And struck his finger on the placeL
And said Thou ailest here and hereN
-
He look'd on Europe's dying hourO
Of fitful dream and feverish powerO
His eye plunged down the weltering strifeH
The turmoil of expiring lifeH
He said The end is everywhereP
Art still has truth take refuge thereP
And he was happy if to knowQ
Causes of things and far belowQ
His feet to see the lurid flowQ
Of terror and insane distressR
And headlong fate be happinessS
-
And Wordsworth Ah pale ghosts rejoiceT
For never has such soothing voiceT
Been to your shadowy world convey'dU
Since erst at morn some wandering shadeU
Heard the clear song of Orpheus comeB
Through Hades and the mournful gloomC
Wordsworth has gone from us and yeV
Ah may ye feel his voice as weV
He too upon a wintry climeC
Had fallen on this iron timeC
Of doubts disputes distractions fearsW
He found us when the age had boundX
Our souls in its benumbing roundX
He spoke and loosed our heart in tearsY
He laid us as we lay at birthZ
On the cool flowery lap of earthZ
Smiles broke from us and we had easeA2
-
The hills were round us and the breezeA2
Went o'er the sun lit fields againB2
Our foreheads felt the wind and rainC2
Our youth return'd for there was shedI
On spirits that had long been deadI
Spirits dried up and closely furl'dI
The freshness of the early worldI
-
Ah since dark days still bring to lightI
Man's prudence and man's fiery mightI
Time may restore us in his courseD2
Goethe's sage mind and Byron's forceD2
But where will Europe's latter hourO
Again find Wordsworth's healing powerO
Others will teach us how to dareP
And against fear our breast to steelE2
Others will strengthen us to bearP
But who ah who will make us feelE2
The cloud of mortal destinyV
Others will front it fearlesslyE2
But who like him will put it byF2
-
Keep fresh the grass upon his graveG2
O Rotha with thy living waveG2
Sing him thy best for few or noneH2
Hears thy voice right now he is goneI2
-
-
AprilE2

Matthew Arnold



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