From Book I, Paterson Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHCIJBKK LMNKKK COPQRKSE TUVW CXC KK| Paterson lies in the valley under the Passaic Falls | A |
| its spent waters forming the outline of his back He | B |
| lies on his right side head near the thunder | C |
| of the waters filling his dreams Eternally asleep | D |
| his dreams walk about the city where he persists | E |
| incognito Butterflies settle on his stone ear | F |
| Immortal he neither moves nor rouses and is seldom | G |
| seen though he breathes and the subtleties of his machinations | H |
| drawing their substance from the noise of the pouring river | C |
| animate a thousand automations Who because they | I |
| neither know their sources nor the sills of their | J |
| disappointments walk outside their bodies aimlessly | B |
| for the most part | K |
| locked and forgot in their desires unroused | K |
| - | |
| Say it no ideas but in things | L |
| nothing but the blank faces of the houses | M |
| and cylindrical trees | N |
| bent forked by preconception and accident | K |
| split furrowed creased mottled stained | K |
| secret into the body of the light | K |
| - | |
| From above higher than the spires higher | C |
| even than the office towers from oozy fields | O |
| abandoned to gray beds of dead grass | P |
| black sumac withered weed stalks | Q |
| mud and thickets cluttered with dead leaves | R |
| the river comes pouring in above the city | K |
| and crashes from the edge of the gorge | S |
| in a recoil of spray and rainbow mists | E |
| - | |
| What common language to unravel | T |
| combed into straight lines | U |
| from that rafter of a rock's | V |
| lip | W |
| - | |
| A man like a city and a woman like a flower | C |
| who are in love Two women Three women | X |
| Innumerable women each like a flower | C |
| - | |
| But | K |
| only one man like a city | K |
William Carlos Williams
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About From Book I, Paterson
From Book I, Paterson is a poem by William Carlos Williams. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about From Book I, Paterson poem by William Carlos Williams
Best Poems of William Carlos Williams