The Revisitation Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH EIEI GJGJ KLKM NMNM OPOP BBBB BQBQ BRBR BSBS MGMG MTMT MUMU UMUM K KV MGMG UWUW MUMU MXMX OUOU MBMB UBUB GUGU GUGU GGGG OYOY MZMZ OGOG MMMM UAUA BA2BA2 MBMB

As I lay awake at night timeA
In an ancient country barrack known to ancient cannoneersB
And recalled the hopes that heralded each seeming brave and bright timeA
Of my primal purple yearsB
-
Much it haunted me that nigh thereC
I had borne my bitterest loss when One who went came not againD
In a joyless hour of discord in a joyless hued July thereC
A July just such as thenD
-
And as thus I brooded longerE
With my faint eyes on the feeble square of wan lit window frameF
A quick conviction sprung within me grew and grew yet strongerE
That the month night was the sameF
-
Too as that which saw her leave meG
On the rugged ridge of Waterstone the peewits plaining roundH
And a lapsing twenty years had ruled that as it were to grieve meG
I should near the once loved groundH
-
Though but now a war worn strangerE
Chance had quartered here I rose up and descended to the yardI
All was soundless save the troopers' horses tossing at the mangerE
And the sentry keeping guardI
-
Through the gateway I betook meG
Down the High Street and beyond the lamps across the battered bridgeJ
Till the country darkness clasped me and the friendly shine forsook meG
And I bore towards the RidgeJ
-
With a dim unowned emotionK
Saying softly Small my reason now at midnight to be hereL
Yet a sleepless swain of fifty with a brief romantic notionK
May retrace a track so dearM
-
Thus I walked with thoughts half utteredN
Up the lane I knew so well the grey gaunt lonely Lane of SlyreM
And at whiles behind me far at sea a sullen thunder mutteredN
As I mounted high and higherM
-
Till the upper roadway quittingO
I adventured on the open drouthy downland thinly grassedP
While the spry white scuts of conies flashed before me earthward flittingO
And an arid wind went pastP
-
Round about me bulged the barrowsB
As before in antique silence immemorial funeral pilesB
Where the sleek herds trampled daily the remains of flint tipt arrowsB
Mid the thyme and chamomilesB
-
And the Sarsen stone there datelessB
On whose breast we had sat and told the zephyrs many a tender vowQ
Held the heat of yester sun as sank thereon one fated matelessB
From those far fond hours till nowQ
-
Maybe flustered by my presenceB
Rose the peewits just as all those years back wailing soft and loudR
And revealing their pale pinions like a fitful phosphorescenceB
Up against the cope of cloudR
-
Where their dolesome exclamationsB
Seemed the voicings of the self same throats I had heard when life was greenS
Though since that day uncounted frail forgotten generationsB
Of their kind had flecked the sceneS
-
And so living long and longerM
In a past that lived no more my eyes discerned there suddenlyG
That a figure broke the skyline first in vague contour then strongerM
And was crossing near to meG
-
Some long missed familiar gestureM
Something wonted struck me in the figure's pause to list and heedT
Till I fancied from its handling of its loosely wrapping vestureM
That it might be She indeedT
-
'Twas not reasonless below thereM
In the vale had been her home the nook might hold her even yetU
And the downlands were her father's fief she still might come and go thereM
So I rose and said AgnetteU
-
With a little leap half frightenedU
She withdrew some steps then letting intuition smother fearM
In a place so long accustomed and as one whom thought enlightenedU
She replied What THAT voice hereM
-
Yes Agnette And did the occasionK
Of our marching hither make you think I MIGHT walk where we two '-
O I often come she murmured with a moment's coy evasionK
'Tis not far and think of youV
-
Then I took her hand and led herM
To the ancient people's stone whereon I had sat There now sat weG
And together talked until the first reluctant shyness fled herM
And she spoke confidinglyG
-
It is JUST as ere we partedU
Said she brimming high with joy And when then came you here and whyW
Dear I could not sleep for thinking of our trystings when twin heartedU
She responded Nor could IW
-
There are few things I would ratherM
Than be wandering at this spirit hour lone lived my kindred deadU
On this wold of well known feature I inherit from my fatherM
Night or day I have no dreadU
-
O I wonder wonder whetherM
Any heartstring bore a signal thrill between us twain or noX
Some such influence can at times they say draw severed souls togetherM
I said Dear we'll dream it soX
-
Each one's hand the other's graspingO
And a mutual forgiveness won we sank to silent thoughtU
A large content in us that seemed our rended lives reclaspingO
And contracting years to noughtU
-
Till I maybe overwearyM
From the lateness and a wayfaring so full of strain and stressB
For one no longer buoyant to a peak so steep and eeryM
Sank to slow unconsciousnessB
-
How long I slept I knew notU
But the brief warm summer night had slid when to my swift surpriseB
A red upedging sun of glory chambered mortals view notU
Was blazing on my eyesB
-
From the Milton Woods to Dole HillG
All the spacious landscape lighting and around about my feetU
Flinging tall thin tapering shadows from the meanest mound and mole hillG
And on trails the ewes had beatU
-
She was sitting still beside meG
Dozing likewise and I turned to her to take her hanging handU
When the more regarding that which like a spectre shook and tried meG
In her image then I scannedU
-
That which Time's transforming chiselG
Had been tooling night and day for twenty years and tooled too wellG
In its rendering of crease where curve was where was raven grizzleG
Pits where peonies once did dwellG
-
She had wakened and perceivingO
I surmise my sigh and shock my quite involuntary dismayY
Up she started and her wasted figure all throughout it heavingO
Said Ah yes I am THUS by dayY
-
Can you really wince and wonderM
That the sunlight should reveal you such a thing of skin and boneZ
As if unaware a Death's head must of need lie not far underM
Flesh whose years out count your ownZ
-
Yes that movement was a warningO
Of the worth of man's devotion Yes Sir I am OLD said sheG
And the thing which should increase love turns it quickly into scorningO
And your new won heart from meG
-
Then she went ere I could call herM
With the too proud temper ruling that had parted us beforeM
And I saw her form descend the slopes and smaller grow and smallerM
Till I caught its course no moreM
-
True I might have dogged her downwardU
But it MAY be though I know not that this trick on us of TimeA
Disconcerted and confused me Soon I bent my footsteps townwardU
Like to one who had watched a crimeA
-
Well I knew my native weaknessB
Well I know it still I cherished her reproach like physic wineA2
For I saw in that emaciate shape of bitterness and bleaknessB
A nobler soul than mineA2
-
Did I not return then everM
Did we meet again mend all Alas what greyhead perseveresB
Soon I got the Route elsewhither Since that hour I have seen her neverM
Love is lame at fifty yearsB

Thomas Hardy



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