Futility Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCC DEDEFF GHIHJJ EKEKLL MNMOPPDusting my books I spent a busy day | A |
Not ancient toes time hallowed and unread | B |
but modern volumes classics in their way | A |
whose makers now are numbered with the dead | B |
Men of a generation more than mine | C |
With whom I tattled battled and drank wine | C |
- | |
I worshipped them rejoiced in their success | D |
Grudging them not the gold that goes with fame | E |
I thought them near immortal I confess | D |
And naught could dim the glory of each name | E |
How I perused their pages with delight | F |
To day I peer with sadness in my sight | F |
- | |
For death has pricked each to a flat balloon | G |
A score of years have gone they're clean forgot | H |
Who would have visioned such a dreary doom | I |
By God I'd like to burn the blasted lot | H |
Only old books are mighty hard to burn | J |
They char they flicker and their pages turn | J |
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And as you stand to poke them in the flame | E |
You see a living line that stabs the heart | K |
Brave writing that It seems a cursed shame | E |
That to a bonfire it should play it's part | K |
Poor book You're crying and you're not alone | L |
Some day someone will surely burn my own | L |
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No I will dust my books and put them by | M |
Yet never look into their leaves again | N |
For scarce a soul remembers them save I | M |
Re reading them would only give me pain | O |
So I will sigh and say with curling lip | P |
Futility Thy name is authorship | P |
Robert William Service
(1)
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