The Legend Of Mirth Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGG HHIIJIIIKILI IIIIMNIIIAAII OOPPQQQQIIIIQQIIIIOO II IIBBRRRIIIIII IISSTTIIIIKKII LLIMIIUUEEII

The Four Archangels so the legends tellA
Raphael Gabriel Michael AzraelA
Being first of those to whom the Power was shownB
Stood first of all the Host before The ThroneB
And when the Charges were allotted burstC
Tumultuous winged from out the assembly firstC
Zeal was their spur that bade them strictly heedD
Their own high judgment on their lightest deedD
Zeal was their spur that when relief was givenE
Urged them unwearied to new toils in HeavenE
For Honour's sake perfecting every taskF
Beyond what e 'en Perfection's self could askF
And Allah Who created Zeal and PrideG
Knows how the twain are perilous near alliedG
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-
It chanced on one of Heaven's long lighted daysH
The Four and all the Host being gone their waysH
Each to his Charge the shining Courts were voidI
Save for one Seraph whom no charge employedI
With folden wings and slumber threatened browJ
To whom The Word quot Beloved what dost thou quotI
quot By the Permission quot came the answer softI
Little I do nor do that little oftI
As is The Will in Heaven so on EarthK
Where by The Will I strive to make men mirth quotI
He ceased and sped hearing The Word once moreL
quot Beloved go thy way and greet the Four quotI
-
Systems and Universes overpastI
The Seraph came upon the Four at lastI
Guiding and guarding with devoted mindI
The tedious generations of mankindI
Who lent at most unwilling ear and eyeM
When they could not escape the ministryN
Yet patient faithful firm persistent justI
Toward all that gross indifferent facile dustI
The Archangels laboured to discharge their trustI
By precept and example prayer and lawA
Advice reproof and rule but labouring sawA
Each in his fellows' countenance confessedI
The Doubt that sickens quot Have I done my best quotI
-
Even as they sighed and turned to toil anewO
The Seraph hailed them with observance dueO
And after some fit talk of higher thingsP
Touched tentative on mundane happeningsP
This they permitting he emboldened thusQ
Prolused of humankind promiscuousQ
And since the large contention less availsQ
Than instances observed he told them talesQ
Tales of the shop the bed the court the streetI
Intimate elemental indiscreetI
Occasions where Confusion smiting swiftI
Piles jest on jest as snow slides pile the driftI
Whence one by one beneath derisive skiesQ
The victims' bare bewildered heads ariseQ
Tales of the passing of the spirit gracedI
With humour blinding as the doom it facedI
Stark tales of ribaldy that broke asideI
To tears by laughter swallowed ere they driedI
Tales to which neither grace nor gain accrueO
But Only Allah be exalted trueO
And only as the Seraph showed that nightI
Delighting to the limits of delightI
-
-
These he rehearsed with artful pause and haltI
And such pretence of memory at faultI
That soon the Four so well the bait was thrownB
Came to his aid with memories of their ownB
Matters dismissed long since as small or vainR
Whereof the high significance had lainR
Hid till the ungirt glosses made it plainR
Then as enlightenment came broad and fastI
Each marvelled at his own oblivious pastI
Until the Gates of Laughter opened wideI
The Four with that bland Seraph at their sideI
While they recalled compared and amplifiedI
In utter mirth forgot both Zeal and PrideI
-
-
High over Heaven the lamps of midnight burnedI
Ere weak with merriment the Four returnedI
Not in that order they were wont to keepS
Pinion to pinion answering sweep for sweepS
In awful diapason heard afarT
But shoutingly adrift 'twixt star and starT
Reeling a planet's orbit left or rightI
As laughter took them in the abysmal NightI
Or by the point of some remembered jestI
Winged and brought helpless down through gulfs unguessedI
Where the blank worlds that gather to the birthK
Leaped in the Womb of Darkness at their mirthK
And e'en Gehenna's bondsmen understoodI
They were not damned from human brotherhoodI
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Not first nor last of Heaven's high Host the FourL
That night took place beneath The Throne once moreL
lovelier than their morning majestyI
The understanding light behind the eyeM
more compelling than their old commandI
The new learned friendly gesture of the handI
sweeter than their zealous fellowshipU
The wise half smile that passed from lip to lipU
well and roundly when Command was givenE
They told their tale against themselves to HeavenE
And in the silence waiting on The WordI
Received the Peace and Pardon of The LordI

Rudyard Kipling



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