Ad Amicos Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AB CDCDDEDE FDFDADAD DDDDDEDE GHGHACAC ECECIHIH AEAEEEEE JCJCDCDC ECECECEC ECECKEKE CHCHECEC

'Dumque virent genuaA
Et decet obducta solvatur fonte senectus 'B
-
THE muse of boyhood's fervid hourC
Grows tame as skies get chill and hazyD
Where once she sought a passion flowerC
She only hopes to find a daisyD
Well who the changing world bewailsD
Who asks to have it stay unalteredE
Shall grown up kittens chase their tailsD
Shall colts be never shod or halteredE
-
Are we 'The Boys' that used to makeF
The tables ring with noisy folliesD
Whose deep lunged laughter oft would shakeF
The ceiling with its thunder volleysD
Are we the youths with lips unshornA
At beauty's feet unwrinkled suitorsD
Whose memories reach tradition's mornA
The days of prehistoric tutorsD
-
'The Boys' we knew but who are theseD
Whose heads might serve for Plutarch's sagesD
Or Fox's martyrs if you pleaseD
Or hermits of the dismal agesD
'The Boys' we knew can these be thoseD
Their cheeks with morning's blush were paintedE
Where are the Harrys Jims and JoesD
With whom we once were well acquaintedE
-
If we are they we're not the sameG
If they are we why then they're maskingH
Do tell us neighbor What 's your nameG
Who are you What's the use of askingH
You once were George or Bill or BenA
There's you yourself there 's you that otherC
I know you now I knew you thenA
You used to be your younger brotherC
-
You both are all our own to dayE
But ah I hear a warning whisperC
Yon roseate hour that flits awayE
Repeats the Roman's sad paulisperC
Come back come back we've need of youI
To pay you for your word of warningH
We'll bathe your wings in brighter dewI
Than ever wet the lids of morningH
-
Behold this cup its mystic wineA
No alien's lip has ever tastedE
The blood of friendship's clinging vineA
Still flowing flowing yet unwastedE
Old Time forgot his running sandE
And laid his hour glass down to fill itE
And Death himself with gentle handE
Has touched the chalice not to spill itE
-
Each bubble rounding at the brimJ
Is rainbowed with its magic storyC
The shining days with age grown dimJ
Are dressed again in robes of gloryC
In all its freshness spring returnsD
With song of birds and blossoms tenderC
Once more the torch of passion burnsD
And youth is here in all its splendorC
-
Hope swings her anchor like a toyE
Love laughs and shows the silver arrowC
We knew so well as man and boyE
The shaft that stings through bone and marrowC
Again our kindling pulses beatE
With tangled curls our fingers dallyC
And bygone beauties smile as sweetE
As fresh blown lilies of the valleyC
-
O blessed hour we may forgetE
Its wreaths its rhymes its songs its laughterC
But not the loving eyes we metE
Whose light shall gild the dim hereafterC
How every heart to each grows warmK
Is one in sunshine's ray We share itE
Is one in sorrow's blinding stormK
A look a word shall help him bear itE
-
'The Boys' we were 'The Boys' we 'll beC
As long as three as two are creepingH
Then here 's to him ah which is heC
Who lives till all the rest are sleepingH
A life with tranquil comfort blestE
The young man's health the rich man's plentyC
All earth can give that earth has bestE
And heaven at fourscore years and twentyC

Oliver Wendell Holmes



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