The Sisters' Tragedy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BC DDEEFGHHIIJJ KLAAMM NNOOPPQQRP S TTP A U S PPPPVVWWXYUUPPTTZ A ZA2A2WW S B2B2 A C2C2D2E2PPF2F2P PPPQ PAAG2G2PPH2H2I2I2J2J 2K2K2L2L2PPM2M2 N2N2PPA D | A |
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AGL E a widow | B |
MURIEL her unmarried sister | C |
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It happened once in that brave land that lies | D |
For half the twelvemonth wrapt in sombre skies | D |
Two sisters loved one man He being dead | E |
Grief loosed the lips of her he had not wed | E |
And all the passion that through heavy years | F |
Had masked in smiles unmasked itself in tears | G |
No purer love may mortals know than this | H |
The hidden love that guards another's bliss | H |
High in a turret's westward facing room | I |
Whose painted window held the sunset's bloom | I |
The two together grieving each to each | J |
Unveiled her soul with sobs and broken speech | J |
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Both were young in life's rich summer yet | K |
And one was dark with tints of violet | L |
In hair and eyes and one was blond as she | A |
Who rose a second daybreak from the sea | A |
Gold tressed and azure eyed In that lone place | M |
Like dusk and dawn they sat there face to face | M |
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She spoke the first whose strangely silvering hair | N |
No wreath had worn nor widow's weed might wear | N |
And told her blameless love and knew no shame | O |
Her holy love that like a vestal flame | O |
Beside the body of some queen | P |
Within a guarded crypt had burned unseen | P |
From weary year to year And she who heard | Q |
Smiled proudly through her tears and said no word | Q |
But drawing closer on the troubled brow | R |
Laid one long kiss and that was words enow | P |
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MURIEL | S |
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Be still my heart Grown patient with thine ache | T |
Thou shouldst be dumb yet needs must speak or break | T |
The world is empty now that he is gone | P |
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AGL E | A |
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Ay sweetheart | U |
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MURIEL | S |
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None was like him no not one | P |
From other men he stood apart alone | P |
In honor spotless as unfallen snow | P |
Nothing all evil was it his to know | P |
His charity still found some germ some spark | V |
Of light in natures that seemed wholly dark | V |
He read men's souls the lowly and the high | W |
Moved on the self same level in his eye | W |
Gracious to all to none subservient | X |
Without offence he spake the word he meant | Y |
His word no trick of tact or courtly art | U |
But the white flowering of the noble heart | U |
Careless he was of much the world counts gain | P |
Careless of self too simple to be vain | P |
Yet strung so finely that for conscience sake | T |
He would have gone like Cranmer to the stake | T |
I saw how could I help but love And you | Z |
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AGL E | A |
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At this perfection did I worship too | Z |
'T was this that stabbed me Heed not what I say | A2 |
I meant it not my wits are gone astray | A2 |
With all that is and has been No I lie | W |
Had he been less perfection happier I | W |
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MURIEL | S |
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Strange words and wild 'T is the distracted mind | B2 |
Breathes them not you and I no meaning find | B2 |
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AGL E | A |
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Yet 't were as plain as writing on a scroll | C2 |
had you but eyes to read within my soul | C2 |
How a grief hidden feeds on its own mood | D2 |
Poison's the healthful currents of the blood | E2 |
With bitterness and turns the heart to stone | P |
I think in truth 't were better to make moan | P |
And so be done with it This many a year | F2 |
Sweetheart have I laughed lightly and made cheer | F2 |
Pierced through with sorrow | P |
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Then the widowed one | P |
With sorrowfullest eyes beneath the sun | P |
Faltered irresolute and bending low | P |
Her head half whispered | Q |
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Dear how could you know | P |
What masks are faces yours unread by me | A |
These seven long summers mine so placidly | A |
Shielding my woe No tremble of the lip | G2 |
No cheek's quick pallor let our secret slip | G2 |
Mere players we and she that played the queen | P |
Now in her homespun looks how poor and mean | P |
How shall I say it how find words to tell | H2 |
What thing it was for me made earth a hell | H2 |
That else had been my heaven 'T would blanch your cheek | I2 |
Were I to speak it Nay but I will speak | I2 |
Since like two souls at compt we seem to stand | J2 |
Where nothing may be hidden Hold my hand | J2 |
But look not at me Noble 't was and meet | K2 |
To hide your heart nor fling it at his feet | K2 |
To lie despised there Thus saved you our pride | L2 |
And that white honor for which earls have died | L2 |
You were not all unhappy loving so | P |
I with a difference wore my weight of woe | P |
My lord was he It was my cruel lot | M2 |
My hell to love him for he loved me not | M2 |
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Then came a silence Suddenly like death | N2 |
The truth flashed on them and each held her breath | N2 |
A flash of light whereby they both were slain | P |
She that was loved and she that loved in vain | P |
Thomas Bailey Aldrich
(1)
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