Porphyria's Lover Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABBCDCDDEFEFFGHGHH IJIIIKLKLLMNMNNIOIOO ILIPLQIRIISTSTTUVUVV| The rain set early in tonight | A |
| The sullen wind was soon awake | B |
| It tore the elm tops down for spite | A |
| And did its worst to vex the lake | B |
| I listened with heart fit to break | B |
| When glided in Porphyria straight | C |
| She shut the cold out and the storm | D |
| And kneeled and made the cheerless grate | C |
| Blaze up and all the cottage warm | D |
| Which done she rose and from her form | D |
| Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl | E |
| And laid her soiled gloves by untied | F |
| Her hat and let the damp hair fall | E |
| And last she sat down by my side | F |
| And called me When no voice replied | F |
| She put my arm about her waist | G |
| And made her smooth white shoulder bare | H |
| And all her yellow hair displaced | G |
| And stooping made my cheek lie there | H |
| And spread o'er all her yellow hair | H |
| Murmuring how she loved me she | I |
| Too weak for all her heart's endeavor | J |
| To set its struggling passion free | I |
| From pride and vainer ties dissever | I |
| And give herself to me forever | I |
| But passion sometimes would prevail | K |
| Nor could tonight's gay feast restrain | L |
| A sudden thought of one so pale | K |
| For love of her and all in vain | L |
| So she was come through wind and rain | L |
| Be sure I looked up at her eyes | M |
| Happy and proud at last I knew | N |
| Porphyria worshiped me surprise | M |
| Made my heart swell and still it grew | N |
| While I debated what to do | N |
| That moment she was mine mine fair | I |
| Perfectly pure and good I found | O |
| A thing to do and all her hair | I |
| In one long yellow string I wound | O |
| Three times her little throat around | O |
| And strangled her No pain felt she | I |
| I am quite sure she felt no pain | L |
| As a shut bud that holds a bee | I |
| I warily oped her lids again | P |
| Laughed the blue eyes without a stain | L |
| And I untightened next the tress | Q |
| About her neck her cheek once more | I |
| Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss | R |
| I propped her head up as before | I |
| Only this time my shoulder bore | I |
| Her head which droops upon it still | S |
| The smiling rosy little head | T |
| So glad it has its utmost will | S |
| That all it scorned at once is fled | T |
| And I its love am gained instead | T |
| Porphyria's love she guessed not how | U |
| Her darling one wish would be heard | V |
| And thus we sit together now | U |
| And all night long we have not stirred | V |
| And yet God has not said a word | V |
Robert Browning
(2)
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Porphyria's Lover is a poem by Robert Browning. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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