The Worst Of It Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDCB AEFGHGF AIJIKJI JLMLNML JOPOJPO JQRSTUQ JVWVXWV JYEYZEY RJA2JB2A2J RC2JC2D2JC2 RE2F2E2G2F2E2 RH2RH2I2RH2 RRJ2RK2J2R JJRJL2RJ JJM2JJ2N2J JO2P2O2EP2O2 JBQ2BC2Q2B JR2RR2RRR2 RRRRQ2RR

IA
Would it were I had been false not youB
I that am nothing not you that are allC
I never the worse for a touch or twoB
On my speckled hide not you the prideD
Of the day my swan that a first fleck's fallC
On her wonder of white must unswan undoB
-
IIA
I had dipped in life's struggle and out againE
Bore specks of it here there easy to seeF
When I found my swan and the cure was plainG
The dull turned bright as I caught your whiteH
On my bosom you saved me saved in vainG
If you ruined yourself and all through meF
-
IIIA
Yes all through the speckled beast that I amI
Who taught you to stoop you gave me yourselfJ
And bound your soul by the vows that damnI
Since on better thought you break as you oughtK
Vows words no angel set down some elfJ
Mistook for an oath an epigramI
-
IVJ
Yes might I judge you here were my heartL
And a hundred its like to treat as you pleasedM
I choose to be yours for my proper partL
Yours leave or take or mar me or makeN
If I acquiesce why should you be teasedM
With the conscience prick and the memory smartL
-
VJ
But what will God say Oh my sweetO
Think and be sorry you did this thingP
Though earth were unworthy to feel your feetO
There's a heaven above may deserve your loveJ
Should you forfeit heaven for a snapt gold ringP
And a promise broke were it just or meetO
-
VIJ
And I to have tempted you I who tiredQ
Your soul no doubt till it sank UnwiseR
I loved and was lowly loved and aspiredS
Loved grieving or glad till I made you madT
And you meant to have hated and despisedU
Whereas you deceived me nor inquiredQ
-
VIIJ
She ruined How No heaven for herV
Crowns to give and none for the browW
That looked like marble and smelt like myrrhV
Shall the robe be worn and the palm branch borneX
And she go graceless she graced nowW
Beyond all saints as themselves averV
-
VIIIJ
Hardly That must be understoodY
The earth is your place of penance thenE
And what will it prove I desire your goodY
But plot as I may I can find no wayZ
How a blow should fall such as falls on menE
Nor prove too much for your womanhoodY
-
IXR
It will come I suspect at the end of lifeJ
When you walk alone and review the pastA2
And I who so long shall have done with strifeJ
And journeyed my stage and earned my wageB2
And retired as was right I am called at lastA2
When the devil stabs you to lend the knifeJ
-
XR
He stabs for the minute of trivial wrongC2
Nor the other hours are able to saveJ
The happy that lasted my whole life longC2
For a promise broke not for first words spokeD2
The true the only that turn my graveJ
To a blaze of joy and a crash of songC2
-
XIR
Witness beforehand Off I tripE2
On a safe path gay through the flowers you flungF2
My very name made great by your lipE2
And my heart a glow with the good I knowG2
Of a perfect year when we both were youngF2
And I tasted the angels' fellowshipE2
-
XIIR
And witness moreover Ah but waitH2
I spy the loop whence an arrow shootsR
It may be for yourself when you meditateH2
That you grieve for slain ruth murdered truthI2
Though falsehood escape in the end what bootsR
How truth would have triumphed you sigh too lateH2
-
XIIIR
Ay who would have triumphed like you I sayR
Well it is lost now well you must bearJ2
Abide and grow fit for a better dayR
You should hardly grudge could I be your judgeK2
But hush For you can be no despairJ2
There's amends 't is a secret hope and prayR
-
XIVJ
For I was true at least oh true enoughJ
And Dear truth is not as good as it seemsR
Commend me to conscience Idle stuffJ
Much help is in mine as I mope and pineL2
And skulk through day and scowl in my dreamsR
At my swan's obtaining the crow's rebuffJ
-
XVJ
Men tell me of truth now False I cryJ
Of beauty A mask friend Look beneathM2
We take our own method the devil and IJ
With pleasant and fair and wise and rareJ2
And the best we wish to what lives is deathN2
Which even in wishing perhaps we lieJ
-
XVIJ
Far better commit a fault and have doneO2
As you Dear for ever and choose the pureP2
And look where the healing waters runO2
And strive and strain to be good againE
And a place in the other world ensureP2
All glass and gold with God for its sunO2
-
XVIIJ
Misery What shall I say or doB
I cannot advise or at least persuadeQ2
Most like you are glad you deceived me rueB
No whit of the wrong you endured too longC2
Have done no evil and want no aidQ2
Will live the old life out and chance the newB
-
XVIIIJ
And your sentence is written all the sameR2
And I can do nothing pray perhapsR
But somehow the world pursues its gameR2
If I pray if I curse for better or worseR
And my faith is torn to a thousand scrapsR
And my heart feels ice while my words breathe flameR2
-
XIXR
Dear I look from my hiding placeR
Are you still so fair Have you still the eyesR
Be happy Add but the other graceR
Be good Why want what the angels vauntQ2
I knew you once but in ParadiseR
If we meet I will pass nor turn my faceR

Robert Browning



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