Truth Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFGHHCCIJKK LLMMKKKNNOPQARRSSTTU UVVWXYYSSFFZZA2A2B2B 2KKC2C2D2E2F2F2G2G2H 2H2H2RRI2I2CCJ2J2K2K 2KKL2L2M2M2N2N2O2O2K P2CCQ2R2S2S2T2M2IIU2 U2V2V2W2W2CCKKE2D2X2 X2H2H2Y2Y2FFCCCCCCD2 E2V2B2CCSSCCCCZ2Z2CC A3A3B3C3D3D3E3E3F3F3 W2W2B2SG3H3CCI3I3J3J 3CCK3K3L3L3CCSSJ2J2V 2K

Man on the dubious waves of error toss'dA
His ship half founder'd and his compass lostA
Sees far as human optics may commandB
A sleeping fog and fancies it dry landB
Spreads all his canvas every sinew pliesC
Pants for it aims at it enters it and diesC
Then farewell all self satisfying schemesD
His well built systems philosophic dreamsD
Deceitful views of future bliss farewellE
He reads his sentence at the flames of hellE
Hard lot of man to toil for the rewardF
Of virtue and yet lose it Wherefore hardG
He that would win the race must guide his horseH
Obedient to the customs of the courseH
Else though unequall d to the goal he fliesC
A meaner than himself shall gain the prizeC
Grace leads the right way if you choose the wrongI
Take it and perish but restrain your tongueJ
Charge not with light sufficient and left freeK
Your wilful suicide on God s decreeK
O how unlike the complex works of manL
Heav n s easy artless unencumber d planL
No meretricious graces to beguileM
No clustering ornaments to clog the pileM
From ostentation as from weakness freeK
It stands like the cerulian arch we seeK
Majestic in its own simplicityK
Inscribed above the portal from afarN
Conspicuous as the brightness of a starN
Legible only by the light they giveO
Stand the soul quickening words believe and liveP
Too many shock d at what should charm them mostQ
Despise the plain direction and are lostA
Heaven on such terms they cry with proud disdainR
Incredible impossible and vainR
Rebel because tis easy to obeyS
And scorn for its own sake the gracious wayS
These are the sober in whose cooler brainsT
Some thought of immortality remainsT
The rest too busy or too gay to waitU
On the sad theme their everlasting stateU
Sport for a day and perish in a nightV
The foam upon the waters not so lightV
Who judged the Pharisee What odious causeW
Exposed him to the vengeance of the lawsX
Had he seduced a virgin wrong d a friendY
Or stabb d a man to serve some private endY
Was blasphemy his sin Or did he strayS
From the strict duties of the sacred dayS
Sit long and late at the carousing boardF
Such were the sins with which he charged his LordF
No the man s morals were exact What thenZ
Twas his ambition to be seen of menZ
His virtues were his pride and that one viceA2
Made all his virtues gewgaws of no priceA2
He wore them as fine trappings for a showB2
A praying synagogue frequenting beauB2
The self applauding bird the peacock seeK
Mark what a sumptuous pharisee is heK
Meridian sunbeams tempt him to unfoldC2
His radiant glories azure green and goldC2
He treads as if some solemn music nearD2
His measured step were govern d by his earE2
And seems to say Ye meaner fowl give placeF2
I am all splendour dignity and graceF2
Not so the pheasant on his charms presumesG2
Though he too has a glory in his plumesG2
He Christian like retreats with modest mienH2
To the close copse or far sequester d greenH2
And shines without desiring to be seenH2
The plea of works as arrogant and vainR
Heaven turns from with abhorrence and disdainR
Not more affronted by avow d neglectI2
Than by the mere dissembler s feign d respectI2
What is all righteousness that men deviseC
What but a sordid bargain for the skiesC
But Christ as soon would abdicate his ownJ2
As stoop from heaven to sell the proud a throneJ2
His dwelling a recess in some rude rockK2
Book beads and maple dish his meagre stockK2
In shirt of hair and weeds of canvas dress dK
Girt with a bell rope that the Pope has bless dK
Adust with stripes told out for every crimeL2
And sore tormented long before his timeL2
His prayer preferr d to saints that cannot aidM2
His praise postponed and never to be paidM2
See the sage hermit by mankind admiredN2
With all that bigotry adopts inspiredN2
Wearing out life in his religious whimO2
Till his religious whimsy wears out himO2
His works his abstinence his zeal allow dK
You think him humble God accounts him proudP2
High in demand though lowly in pretenceC
Of all his conduct this the genuine senseC
My penitential stripes my streaming bloodQ2
Have purchased heaven and proved my title goodR2
Turn eastward now and fancy shall applyS2
To your weak sight her telescopic eyeS2
The Bramin kindles on his own bare headT2
The sacred fire self torturing his tradeM2
His voluntary pains severe and longI
Would give a barbarous air to British songI
No grand inquisitor could worse inventU2
Than he contrives to suffer well contentU2
Which is the saintlier worthy of the twoV2
Past all dispute yon anchorite say youV2
Your sentence and mine differ What s a nameW2
I say the Bramin has the fairer claimW2
If sufferings Scripture nowhere recommendsC
Devised by self to answer selfish endsC
Give saintship then all Europe must agreeK
Ten starveling hermits suffer less than heK
The truth is if the truth may suit your earE2
And prejudice have left a passage clearD2
Pride has attain d a most luxuriant growthX2
And poison d every virtue in them bothX2
Pride may be pamper d while the flesh grows leanH2
Humility may clothe an English deanH2
That grace was Cowper s his confess d by allY2
Though placed in golden Durham s second stallY2
Not all the plenty of a bishop s boardF
His palace and his lacqueys and My LordF
More nourish pride that condescending viceC
Than abstinence and beggary and liceC
It thrives in misery and abundant growsC
In misery fools upon themselves imposeC
But why before us Protestants produceC
An Indian mystic or a French recluseC
Their sin is plain but what have we to fearD2
Reform d and well instructed You shall hearE2
Yon ancient prude whose wither d features shewV2
She might be young some forty years agoB2
Her elbows pinion d close upon her hipsC
Her head erect her fan upon her lipsC
Her eyebrows arch d her eyes both gone astrayS
To watch yon amorous couple in their playS
With bony and unkerchief d neck defiesC
The rude inclemency of wintry skiesC
And sails with lappet head and mincing airsC
Duly at clink of bell to morning prayersC
To thrift and parsimony much inclinedZ2
She yet allows herself that boy behindZ2
The shivering urchin bending as he goesC
With slipshod heels and dewdrop at his noseC
His predecessor s coat advanced to wearA3
Which future pages yet are doom d to shareA3
Carries her Bible tuck d beneath his armB3
And hides his hands to keep his fingers warmC3
She half an angel in her own accountD3
Doubts not hereafter with the saints to mountD3
Though not a grace appears on strictest searchE3
But that she fasts and item goes to churchE3
Conscious of age she recollects her youthF3
And tells not always with an eye to truthF3
Who spann d her waist and who where er he cameW2
Scrawl d upon glass Miss Bridget s lovely nameW2
Who stole her slipper fill d it with tokayB2
And drank the little bumper every dayS
Of temper as envenom d as an aspG3
Censorious and her every word a waspH3
In faithful memory she records the crimesC
Or real or fictitious of the timesC
Laughs at the reputations she has tornI3
And holds them dangling at arm s length in scornI3
Such are the fruits of sanctimonious prideJ3
Of malice fed while flesh is mortifiedJ3
Take madam the reward of all your prayersC
Where hermits and where Bramins meet with theirsC
Your portion is with them Nay never frownK3
But if you please some fathoms lower downK3
Artist attend your brushes and your paintL3
Produce them take a chair now draw a saintL3
Oh sorrowful and sad the streaming tearsC
Channel her cheeks a Niobe appearsC
Is this a saint Throw tints and all awayS
True piety is cheerful as the dayS
Will weep indeed and heave a pitying groanJ2
For others woes but smiles upon her ownJ2
What purpose has the King of saints in viewV2
Why falls the gospel like a gracious dK

William Cowper



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Truth poem by William Cowper


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 22 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets