How It Strikes A Contemporary Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AB CDEFCGHIJKLMNCOPQRST CUVWXYZA2DCB2C2D2E2C XF2G2H2CI2YXCD2J2K2L 2CM2DCCCZN2CO2P2Q2R2 CCCCS2T2CG2 CN2JU2ZCAV2C2CECJ2W2 TS2 X2Y2Z2V2CCA3B3C3VD3 CXE3CCF3G3H3CCHCI3XC G2N

I only knew one poet in my lifeA
And this or something like it was his wayB
-
You saw go up and down ValladolidC
A man of mark to know next time you sawD
His very serviceable suit of blackE
Was courtly once and conscientious stillF
And many might have worn it though none didC
The cloak that somewhat shone and shewed the threadsG
Had purpose and the ruff significanceH
He walked and tapped the pavement with his caneI
Scenting the world looking it full in faceJ
An old dog bald and blindish at his heelsK
They turned up now the alley by the churchL
That leads no whither now they breathed themselvesM
On the main promenade just at the wrong timeN
You'd come upon his scrutinising hatC
Making a peaked shade blacker than itselfO
Against the single window spared some houseP
Intact yet with its mouldered Moorish workQ
Or else surprise the ferrel of his stickR
Trying the mortar's temper 'tween the chinksS
Of some new shop a building French and fineT
He stood and watched the cobbler at his tradeC
The man who slices lemons into drinkU
The coffee roaster's brazier and the boysV
That volunteer to help him turn its winchW
He glanced o'er books on stalls with half an eyeX
And fly leaf ballads on the vendor's stringY
And broad edge bold print posters by the wallZ
He took such cognisance of men and thingsA2
If any beat a horse you felt he sawD
If any cursed a woman he took noteC
Yet stared at nobody they stared at himB2
And found less to their pleasure than surpriseC2
He seemed to know them and expect as muchD2
So next time that a neighbour's tongue was looseE2
It marked the shameful and notorious factC
We had among us not so much a spyX
As a recording chief inquisitorF2
The town's true master if the town but knewG2
We merely kept a Governor for formH2
While this man walked about and took accountC
Of all thought said and acted then went homeI2
And wrote it fully to our Lord the KingY
Who has an itch to know things He knows whyX
And reads them in His bed room of a nightC
Oh you might smile there wanted not a touchD2
A tang of well it was not wholly easeJ2
As back into your mind the man's look cameK2
Stricken in years a little such a browL2
His eyes had to live under clear as flintC
On either side the formidable noseM2
Curved cut and coloured like an eagle's clawD
Had he to do with A 's surprising fateC
When altogether old B disappearedC
And young C got his mistress was't our friendC
His letter to the King that did it allZ
What paid the bloodless man for so much painsN2
Our Lord the King has favourites manifoldC
And shifts his ministry some once a monthO2
Our city gets new Governors at whilesP2
But never word or sign that I could hearQ2
Notified to this man about the streetsR2
The King's approval of those letters connedC
The last thing duly at the dead of nightC
Did the man love his office frowned our LordC
Exhorting when none heard Beseech me notC
Too far above my people beneath MeS2
I set the watch how should the people knowT2
Forget them keep Me all the more in mindC
Was some such understanding 'twixt the TwoG2
-
I found no truth in one report at leastC
That if you tracked him to his home down lanesN2
Beyond the Jewry and as clean to paceJ
You found he ate his supper in a roomU2
Blazing with lights four Titians on the wallZ
And twenty naked girls to change his plateC
Poor man he lived another kind of lifeA
In that new stuccoed third house by the bridgeV2
Fresh painted rather smart than otherwiseC2
The whole street might o'erlook him as he satC
Leg crossing leg one foot on the dog's backE
Playing a decent cribbage with his maidC
Jacynth you're sure her name was o'er the cheeseJ2
And fruit three red halves of starved winter pearsW2
Or treat of radishes in April nineT
Ten struck the church clock straight to bed went heS2
-
My father like the man of sense he wasX2
Would point him out to me a dozen timesY2
St St he'd whisper the CorregidorZ2
I had been used to think that personageV2
Was one with lacquered breeches lustrous beltC
And feathers like a forest in his hatC
Who blew a trumpet and proclaimed the newsA3
Announced the bull fights gave each church its turnB3
And memorized the miracle in vogueC3
He had a great observance from us boysV
I was in error that was not the manD3
-
I'd like now yet had haply been afraidC
To have just looked when this man came to dieX
And seen who lined the clean gay garret's sidesE3
And stood about the neat low truckle bedC
With the heavenly manner of relieving guardC
Here had been mark the general in chiefF3
Thro' a whole campaign of the world's life and deathG3
Doing the King's work all the dim day longH3
In his old coat and up to his knees in mudC
Smoked like a herring dining on a crustC
And now the day was won relieved at onceH
No further show or need for that old coatC
You are sure for one thing Bless us all the whileI3
How sprucely we are dressed out you and IX
A second and the angels alter thatC
Well I could never write a verse could youG2
Let's to the Prado and make the most of timeN

Robert Browning



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