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 N2N2PP

A DA
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AGL E a widowB
MURIEL her unmarried sisterC
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It happened once in that brave land that liesD
For half the twelvemonth wrapt in sombre skiesD
Two sisters loved one man He being deadE
Grief loosed the lips of her he had not wedE
And all the passion that through heavy yearsF
Had masked in smiles unmasked itself in tearsG
No purer love may mortals know than thisH
The hidden love that guards another's blissH
High in a turret's westward facing roomI
Whose painted window held the sunset's bloomI
The two together grieving each to eachJ
Unveiled her soul with sobs and broken speechJ
-
Both were young in life's rich summer yetK
And one was dark with tints of violetL
In hair and eyes and one was blond as sheA
Who rose a second daybreak from the seaA
Gold tressed and azure eyed In that lone placeM
Like dusk and dawn they sat there face to faceM
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She spoke the first whose strangely silvering hairN
No wreath had worn nor widow's weed might wearN
And told her blameless love and knew no shameO
Her holy love that like a vestal flameO
Beside the body of some queenP
Within a guarded crypt had burned unseenP
From weary year to year And she who heardQ
Smiled proudly through her tears and said no wordQ
But drawing closer on the troubled browR
Laid one long kiss and that was words enowP
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MURIELS
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Be still my heart Grown patient with thine acheT
Thou shouldst be dumb yet needs must speak or breakT
The world is empty now that he is goneP
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AGL EA
-
Ay sweetheartU
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MURIELS
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None was like him no not oneP
From other men he stood apart aloneP
In honor spotless as unfallen snowP
Nothing all evil was it his to knowP
His charity still found some germ some sparkV
Of light in natures that seemed wholly darkV
He read men's souls the lowly and the highW
Moved on the self same level in his eyeW
Gracious to all to none subservientX
Without offence he spake the word he meantY
His word no trick of tact or courtly artU
But the white flowering of the noble heartU
Careless he was of much the world counts gainP
Careless of self too simple to be vainP
Yet strung so finely that for conscience sakeT
He would have gone like Cranmer to the stakeT
I saw how could I help but love And youZ
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AGL EA
-
At this perfection did I worship tooZ
'T was this that stabbed me Heed not what I sayA2
I meant it not my wits are gone astrayA2
With all that is and has been No I lieW
Had he been less perfection happier IW
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MURIELS
-
Strange words and wild 'T is the distracted mindB2
Breathes them not you and I no meaning findB2
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AGL EA
-
Yet 't were as plain as writing on a scrollC2
had you but eyes to read within my soulC2
How a grief hidden feeds on its own moodD2
Poison's the healthful currents of the bloodE2
With bitterness and turns the heart to stoneP
I think in truth 't were better to make moanP
And so be done with it This many a yearF2
Sweetheart have I laughed lightly and made cheerF2
Pierced through with sorrowP
-
Then the widowed oneP
With sorrowfullest eyes beneath the sunP
Faltered irresolute and bending lowP
Her head half whisperedQ
-
Dear how could you knowP
What masks are faces yours unread by meA
These seven long summers mine so placidlyA
Shielding my woe No tremble of the lipG2
No cheek's quick pallor let our secret slipG2
Mere players we and she that played the queenP
Now in her homespun looks how poor and meanP
How shall I say it how find words to tellH2
What thing it was for me made earth a hellH2
That else had been my heaven 'T would blanch your cheekI2
Were I to speak it Nay but I will speakI2
Since like two souls at compt we seem to standJ2
Where nothing may be hidden Hold my handJ2
But look not at me Noble 't was and meetK2
To hide your heart nor fling it at his feetK2
To lie despised there Thus saved you our prideL2
And that white honor for which earls have diedL2
You were not all unhappy loving soP
I with a difference wore my weight of woeP
My lord was he It was my cruel lotM2
My hell to love him for he loved me notM2
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Then came a silence Suddenly like deathN2
The truth flashed on them and each held her breathN2
A flash of light whereby they both were slainP
She that was loved and she that loved in vainP

Thomas Bailey Aldrich



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