The Statues Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ KLKL MNMN OPOP QRSR TUTV WXWX YZYZ A2B2A2B2 C2A2C2A2 D2E2D2E2 A2A2A2A2 IFIF

Tarry a moment happy feetA
That to the sound of laughter glideB
O glad ones of the evening streetA
Behold what forms are at your sideB
-
You conquerors of the toilsome dayC
Pass by with laughter labour doneD
But these within their durance stayC
Their travail sleeps not with the sunD
-
They like dim statues without endE
Their patient attitudes maintainF
Your triumphing bright course attendE
But from your eager ways abstainF
-
Now if you chafe in secret thoughtG
A moment turn from light distressH
And see how Fate on these hath wroughtG
Who yet so deeply acquiesceH
-
Behold them stricken silent weakI
The maimed the mute the halt the blindJ
Condemned amid defeat to seekI
The thing which they shall never findJ
-
They haunt the shadows of your waysK
In masks of perishable mouldL
Their souls a changing flesh arraysK
But they are changeless from of oldL
-
Their lips repeat an empty callM
But silence wraps their thoughts aroundN
On them like snow the ages fallM
Time muffles all this transient soundN
-
When Shalmaneser pitched his tentO
By Tigris and his flag unfurledP
And forth his summons proudly sentO
Into the new unconquered worldP
-
Or when with spears Cambyses rodeQ
Through Memphis and her bending slavesR
Or first the Tyrian gazed abroadS
Upon the bright vast outer wavesR
-
When sages star instructed menT
To the young glory of BabylonU
Foreknew no ending even thenT
Innumerable years had flownV
-
Since first the chisel in her handW
Necessity the sculptor tookX
And in her spacious meaning plannedW
These forms and that eternal lookX
-
These foreheads moulded from afarY
These soft unfathomable eyesZ
Gazing from darkness like a starY
These lips whose grief is to be wiseZ
-
As from the mountain marble rudeA2
The growing statue rises fairB2
She from immortal patience hewedA2
The limbs of ever young despairB2
-
There is no bliss so new and dearC2
It hath not them far off alluredA2
All things that we have yet to fearC2
They have already long enduredA2
-
Nor is there any sorrow moreD2
Than hath ere now befallen theseE2
Whose gaze is as an opening doorD2
On wild interminable seasE2
-
O Youth run fast upon thy feetA2
With full joy haste thee to be filledA2
And out of moments brief and sweetA2
Thou shalt a power for ages buildA2
-
Does thy heart falter Here then seekI
What strength is in thy kind With painF
Immortal bowed these mortals weakI
Gentle and unsubdued remainF

Robert Laurence Binyon



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About The Statues

The Statues is a poem by Robert Laurence Binyon. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.



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