Thel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEF GHIGJCKLM NOPKHQGRSTUA V WEXJYZTOA2J IACW KN A WDWL B2W TC2D2DWE2F2A2G2E2 WE2H2I2DJ2K2 L2 M2N2WLO2 P2W A K Q2P2R2S2T2 KKM2 U2KV2 KKWDW2X2 WR2KKR2DK M2Y2GK X2 Z2A3B3C3O2 V2X2KY2K A2WD3WK KE3KF3G V2Z2

IA
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The daughters of Mne Seraphim led round their sunny flocksB
All but the youngest she in paleness sought the secret airC
To fade away like morning beauty from her mortal dayD
Down by the river of Adona her soft voice is heardE
And thus her gentle lamentation falls like morning dewF
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O life of this our spring why fades the lotus of the waterG
Why fade these children of the spring born but to smile fallH
Ah Thel is like a watry bow and like a parting cloudI
Like a reflection in a glass like shadows in the waterG
Like dreams of infants like a smile upon an infants faceJ
Like the doves voice like transient day like music in the airC
Ah gentle may I lay me down and gentle rest my headK
And gentle sleep the sleep of death and gently hear the voiceL
Of him that walketh in the garden in the evening timeM
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The Lilly of the valley breathing in the humble grassN
Answerd the lovely maid and said I am a watry weedO
And I am very small and love to dwell in lowly valesP
So weak the gilded butterfly scarce perches on my headK
Yet I am visited from heaven and he that smiles on allH
Walks in the valley and each morn over me spreads his handQ
Saying rejoice thou humble grass thou new born lily flowerG
Thou gentle maid of silent valleys and of modest brooksR
For thou shall be clothed in light and fed with morning mannaS
Till summers heat melts thee beside the fountains and the springsT
To flourish in eternal vales they why should Thel complainU
Why should the mistress of the vales of Har utter a sighA
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She ceasd smild in tears then sat down in her silver shrineV
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Thel answerd O thou little virgin of the peaceful valleyW
Giving to those that cannot crave the voiceless the o'er tiredE
The breath doth nourish the innocent lamb he smells the milky garmentsX
He crops thy flowers while thou sittest smiling in his faceJ
Wiping his mild and meekin mouth from all contagious taintsY
Thy wine doth purify the golden honey thy perfumeZ
Which thou dost scatter on every little blade of grass that springsT
Revives the milked cow tames the fire breathing steedO
But Thel is like a faint cloud kindled at the rising sunA2
I vanish from my pearly throne and who shall find my placeJ
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Queen of the vales the Lily answered ask the tender cloudI
And it shall tell thee why it glitters in the morning skyA
And why it scatters its bright beauty thro the humid airC
Descend O little cloud hover before the eyes of ThelW
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The Cloud descended and the Lily bowd her modest headK
And went to mind her numerous charge among the verdant grassN
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IIA
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O little Cloud the virgin said I charge thee to tell meW
Why thou complainest now when in one hour thou fade awayD
Then we shall seek thee but not find ah Thel is like to theeW
I pass away yet I complain and no one hears my voiceL
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The Cloud then shewd his golden head his bright form emerg'dB2
Hovering and glittering on the air before the face of ThelW
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O virgin know'st thou not our steeds drink of the golden springsT
Where Luvah doth renew his horses lookst thou on my youthC2
And fearest thou because I vanish and am seen no moreD2
Nothing remains O maid I tell thee when I pass awayD
It is to tenfold life to love to peace and raptures holyW
Unseen descending weigh my light wings upon balmy flowersE2
And court the fair eyed dew to take me to her shining tentF2
The weeping virgin trembling kneels before the risen sunA2
Till we arise link'd in a golden band and never partG2
But walk united bearing food to all our tender flowersE2
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Dost thou O little cloud I fear that I am not like theeW
For I walk through the vales of Har and smell the sweetest flowersE2
But I feed not the little flowers I hear the warbling birdsH2
But I feed not the warbling birds they fly and seek their foodI2
But Thel delights in these no more because I fade awayD
And all shall say without a use this shining women liv'dJ2
Or did she only live to be at death the food of wormsK2
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The Cloud reclind upon his airy throne and answerd thusL2
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Then if thou art the food of worms O virgin of the skiesM2
How great thy use how great thy blessing every thing that livesN2
Lives not alone nor or itself fear not and I will callW
The weak worm from its lowly bed and thou shalt hear its voiceL
Come forth worm and the silent valley to thy pensive queenO2
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The helpless worm arose and sat upon the Lillys leafP2
And the bright Cloud saild on to find his partner in the valeW
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IIIA
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Then Thel astonish'd view'd the Worm upon its dewy bedK
-
Art thou a Worm image of weakness art thou but a WormQ2
I see thee like an infant wrapped in the Lillys leafP2
Ah weep not little voice thou can'st not speak but thou can'st weepR2
Is this a Worm I see they lay helpless naked weepingS2
And none to answer none to cherish thee with mothers smilesT2
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The Clod of Clay heard the Worms voice rais'd her pitying headK
She bowd over the weeping infant and her life exhaldK
In milky fondness then on Thel she fix'd her humble eyesM2
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O beauty of the vales of Har we live not for ourselvesU2
Thou seest me the meanest thing and so I am indeedK
My bosom of itself is cold and of itself is darkV2
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But he that loves the lowly pours his oil upon my headK
And kisses me and binds his nuptial bands around my breastK
And says Thou mother of my children I have loved theeW
And I have given thee a crown that none can take awayD
But how this is sweet maid I know not and I cannot knowW2
I ponder and I cannot ponder yet I live and loveX2
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The daughter of beauty wip'd her pitying tears with her white veilW
And said Alas I knew not this and therefore did I weepR2
That God would love a Worm I knew and punish the evil footK
That wilful bruis'd its helpless form but that he cherish'd itK
With milk and oil I never knew and therefore did I weepR2
And I complaind in the mild air because I fade awayD
And lay me down in thy cold bed and leave my shining lotK
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Queen of the vales the matron Clay answered I heard thy sighsM2
And all thy moans flew o'er my roof but I have call'd them downY2
Wilt thou O Queen enter my house tis given thee to enterG
And to return fear nothing enter with thy virgin feetK
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IVX2
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The eternal gates terrific porter lifted the northern barZ2
Thel enter'd in saw the secrets of the land unknownA3
She saw the couches of the dead where the fibrous rootsB3
Of every heart on earth infixes deep its restless twistsC3
A land of sorrows of tears where never smile was seenO2
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She wandered in the land of clouds thro' valleys dark listningV2
Dolors lamentations waiting oft beside the dewy graveX2
She stood in silence listning to the voices of the groundK
Till to her own grave plot she came there she sat downY2
And heard this voice of sorrow breathed from the hollow pitK
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Why cannot the Ear be closed to its own destructionA2
Or the glistening Eye to the poison of a smileW
Why are Eyelids stord with arrows ready drawnD3
Where a thousand fighting men in ambush lieW
Or an Eye of gifts graces showring fruits coined goldK
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Why a Tongue impress'd with honey from every windK
Why an Ear a whirlpool fierce to draw creations inE3
Why a Nostril wide inhaling terror trembling affrightK
Why a tender curb upon the youthful burning boyF3
Why a little curtain of flesh on the bed of our desireG
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The Virgin started from her seat with a shriekV2
Fled back unhinderd till she came into the vales of HarZ2

William Blake



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