Orpheus Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJKLMKGNOPBQ GRSSGLTUVWSXSYG S ZA2S A GB2SC2GS S B2D2S A E2F2G2H2I2J2K2GL2I2S SM2SSSN2SO2P2SQ2R2S2 T2B2K2U2SU2V2SGGNKK2 SSW2X2R2Y2Z2SH2SSA3S FB3SWU2GSSS2T2SSC3SD 3SGE2E3F3G3H3SI3GI2S SJ3S

AA
Not far from hence From yonder pointed hillB
Crowned with a ring of oaks you may beholdC
A dark and barren field through which there flowsD
Sluggish and black a deep but narrow streamE
Which the wind ripples not and the fair moonF
Gazes in vain and finds no mirror thereG
Follow the herbless banks of that strange brookH
Until you pause beside a darksome pondI
The fountain of this rivulet whose gushJ
Cannot be seen hid by a rayless nightK
That lives beneath the overhanging rockL
That shades the pool an endless spring of gloomM
Upon whose edge hovers the tender lightK
Trembling to mingle with its paramourG
But as Syrinx fled Pan so night flies dayN
Or with most sullen and regardless hateO
Refuses stern her heaven born embraceP
On one side of this jagged and shapeless hillB
There is a cave from which there eddies upQ
A pale mist like aereal gossamerG
Whose breath destroys all life awhile it veilsR
The rock then scattered by the wind it fliesS
Along the stream or lingers on the cleftsS
Killing the sleepy worms if aught bide thereG
Upon the beetling edge of that dark rockL
There stands a group of cypresses not suchT
As with a graceful spire and stirring lifeU
Pierce the pure heaven of your native valeV
Whose branches the air plays among but notW
Disturbs fearing to spoil their solemn graceS
But blasted and all wearily they standX
One to another clinging their weak boughsS
Sigh as the wind buffets them and they shakeY
Beneath its blasts a weatherbeaten crewG
-
CHORUSS
-
What wondrous sound is that mournful and faintZ
But more melodious than the murmuring windA2
Which through the columns of a temple glidesS
-
AA
-
It is the wandering voice of Orpheus lyreG
Borne by the winds who sigh that their rude kingB2
Hurries them fast from these air feeding notesS
But in their speed they bear along with themC2
The waning sound scattering it like dewG
Upon the startled senseS
-
CHORUSS
-
Does he still singB2
Methought he rashly cast away his harpD2
When he had lost EurydiceS
-
AA
-
Ah noE2
Awhile he paused As a poor hunted stagF2
A moment shudders on the fearful brinkG2
Of a swift stream the cruel hounds press onH2
With deafening yell the arrows glance and woundI2
He plunges in so Orpheus seized and tornJ2
By the sharp fangs of an insatiate griefK2
Maenad like waved his lyre in the bright airG
And wildly shrieked Where she is it is darkL2
And then he struck from forth the strings a soundI2
Of deep and fearful melody AlasS
In times long past when fair EurydiceS
With her bright eyes sat listening by his sideM2
He gently sang of high and heavenly themesS
As in a brook fretted with little wavesS
By the light airs of spring each riplet makesS
A many sided mirror for the sunN2
While it flows musically through green banksS
Ceaseless and pauseless ever clear and freshO2
So flowed his song reflecting the deep joyP2
And tender love that fed those sweetest notesS
The heavenly offspring of ambrosial foodQ2
But that is past Returning from drear HellR2
He chose a lonely seat of unhewn stoneS2
Blackened with lichens on a herbless plainT2
Then from the deep and overflowing springB2
Of his eternal ever moving griefK2
There rose to Heaven a sound of angry songU2
Tis as a mighty cataract that partsS
Two sister rocks with waters swift and strongU2
And casts itself with horrid roar and dinV2
Adown a steep from a perennial sourceS
It ever flows and falls and breaks the airG
With loud and fierce but most harmonious roarG
And as it falls casts up a vaporous sprayN
Which the sun clothes in hues of Iris lightK
Thus the tempestuous torrent of his griefK2
Is clothed in sweetest sounds and varying wordsS
Of poesy Unlike all human worksS
It never slackens and through every changeW2
Wisdom and beauty and the power divineX2
Of mighty poesy together dwellR2
Mingling in sweet accord As I have seenY2
A fierce south blast tear through the darkened skyZ2
Driving along a rack of winged cloudsS
Which may not pause but ever hurry onH2
As their wild shepherd wills them while the starsS
Twinkling and dim peep from between the plumesS
Anon the sky is cleared and the high domeA3
Of serene Heaven starred with fiery flowersS
Shuts in the shaken earth or the still moonF
Swiftly yet gracefully begins her walkB3
Rising all bright behind the eastern hillsS
I talk of moon and wind and stars and notW
Of song but would I echo his high songU2
Nature must lend me words ne er used beforeG
Or I must borrow from her perfect worksS
To picture forth his perfect attributesS
He does no longer sit upon his throneS2
Of rock upon a desert herbless plainT2
For the evergreen and knotted ilexesS
And cypresses that seldom wave their boughsS
And sea green olives with their grateful fruitC3
And elms dragging along the twisted vinesS
Which drop their berries as they follow fastD3
And blackthorn bushes with their infant raceS
Of blushing rose blooms beeches to lovers dearG
And weeping willow trees all swift or slowE2
As their huge boughs or lighter dress permitE3
Have circled in his throne and Earth herselfF3
Has sent from her maternal breast a growthG3
Of starlike flowers and herbs of odour sweetH3
To pave the temple that his poesyS
Has framed while near his feet grim lions couchI3
And kids fearless from love creep near his lairG
Even the blind worms seem to feel the soundI2
The birds are silent hanging down their headsS
Perched on the lowest branches of the treesS
Not even the nightingale intrudes a noteJ3
In rivalry but all entranced she listensS

Percy Bysshe Shelley



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