Winged Man Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDE FFGG HHII JJJ KLL MKK KKK NKK KOO LKK| The moon a sweeping scimitar dipped in the stormy straits | A |
| The dawn a crimson cataract burst through the eastern gates | A |
| The cliffs were robed in scarlet the sands were cinnabar | B |
| Where first two men spread wings for flight and dared the hawk afar | B |
| - | |
| There stands the cunning workman the crafty past all praise | C |
| The man who chained the Minotaur the man who built the Maze | C |
| His young son is beside him and the boy's face is a light | D |
| A light of dawn and wonder and of valor infinite | E |
| - | |
| Their great vans beat the cloven air like eagles they mount up | F |
| Motes in the wine of morning specks in a crystal cup | F |
| And lest his wings should melt apace old Daedalus flies low | G |
| But Icarus beats up beats up he goes where lightnings go | G |
| - | |
| He cares no more for warnings he rushes through the sky | H |
| Braving the crags of ether daring the gods on high | H |
| Black 'gainst the crimson sunset golden o'er cloudy snows | I |
| With all Adventure in his heart the first winged man arose | I |
| - | |
| Dropping gold dropping gold where the mists of morning rolled | J |
| On he kept his way undaunted though his breaths were stabs of cold | J |
| Through the mystery of dawning that no mortal may behold | J |
| - | |
| Now he shouts now he sings in the rapture of his wings | K |
| And his great heart burns intenser with the strength of his desire | L |
| As he circles like a swallow wheeling flaming gyre on gyre | L |
| - | |
| Gazing straight at the sun half his pilgrimage is done | M |
| And he staggers for a moment hurries on reels backward swerves | K |
| In a rain of scattered feathers as he falls in broken curves | K |
| - | |
| Icarus Icarus though the end is piteous | K |
| Yet forever yea forever we shall see thee rising thus | K |
| See the first supernal glory not the ruin hideous | K |
| - | |
| You were Man you who ran farther than our eyes can scan | N |
| Man absurd gigantic eager for impossible Romance | K |
| Overthrowing all Hell's legions with one warped and broken lance | K |
| - | |
| On the highest steeps of Space he will have his dwelling place | K |
| In those far terrific regions where the cold comes down like Death | O |
| Gleams the red glint of his pinions smokes the vapor of his breath | O |
| - | |
| Floating downward very clear still the echoes reach the ear | L |
| Of a little tune he whistles and a little song he sings | K |
| Mounting mounting still triumphant on his torn and broken wings | K |
Stephen Vincent Benet
(1)
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