Elegiac Stanzas - Written During Sickness At Bath. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEDE FGFG HIHI JKJK LMNM OPOP QRQS TUTU VWVX YZYZ A2B2A2B2 GC2GC2 HZHZ QYQY D2ZD2Z QTQT E2F2E2F2 G2MG2M E2H2E2H2 I2J2I2K2 L2M2L2M2 GN2GI SM2SM2

When I lie musing on my bed aloneA
And listen to the wintry waterfallB
And many moments that are past and goneC
Moments of sunshine and of joy recallB
-
Though the long night is dark and damp aroundD
And no still star hangs out its friendly flameE
And the winds sweep the sash with sullen soundD
And freezing palsy creeps o'er all my frameE
-
I catch consoling phantasies that springF
From the thick gloom and as the night airs beatG
They touch my heart like wind swift wires that ringF
In mournful modulations strange and sweetG
-
Was it the voice of thee my buried friendH
Was it the whispered vow of faithful loveI
Do I in Knoyle's green shades thy steps attendH
And hear the high pines murmur thus aboveI
-
'Twas not thy voice my buried friend Oh noJ
'Twas not O Knoyle the murmur of thy treesK
But at the thought I feel my bosom glowJ
And woo the dream whose air drawn shadows pleaseK
-
And I can think I see the groves againL
The larches that yon peaceful roof embowerM
The airy down the cattle speckled plainN
And the slant sunshine on the village towerM
-
And I can think I hear its Sabbath chimeO
Come smoothly softened down the woody valeP
Or mark on yon lone eminence sublimeO
Fast whirling in the wind the white mill's sailP
-
Phantom that by my bed dost beckoning glideQ
Spectre of Death to the damp charnel hieR
Thy dim pale hand thy festering visage hideQ
Thou com'st to say I with thy worms shall lieS
-
Thou com'st to say that my once vacant mindT
Amid those scenes shall never more rejoiceU
Nor on the day of rest the hoary hindT
Bend o'er his staff attentive to my voiceU
-
Hast thou not visited that pleasant placeV
Where in this hard world I have happiest beenW
And shall I tremble at thy lifted maceV
That hath pierced all on which life seemed to leanX
-
But Hope might whisper Many a smiling dayY
And many a cheerful eve may yet be mineZ
Ere age's autumn strew my locks with grayY
And weary to the dust my steps declineZ
-
I argue not but uncomplaining bowA2
To Heaven's high 'hest secure whate'er my lotB2
Meek spirit of resigned Content that thouA2
Wilt smooth my pillow and forsake me notB2
-
Thou to the turfy hut with pilgrim feetG
Wanderest from halls of loud tumultuous joyC2
Or on the naked down when the winds beatG
Dost sing to the forsaken shepherd boyC2
-
Thou art the sick man's nurse the poor man's friendH
And through each change of life thou hast been mineZ
In every ill thou canst a comfort blendH
And bid the eye though sad in sadness shineZ
-
Thee I have met on Cherwell's willowed sideQ
And when our destined road far onward layY
Thee I have found whatever chance betideQ
The kind companion of my devious wayY
-
With thee unwearied have I loved to roamD2
By the smooth flowing Scheldt or rushing RhineZ
And thou hast gladdened my sequestered homeD2
And hung my peaceful porch with eglantineZ
-
When cares and crosses my tired spirits triedQ
When to the dust my father I resignedT
Amidst the quiet shade unseen I sighedQ
And blest with thee forgot a world unkindT
-
Ev'n now while toiling through the sleepless nightE2
A tearful look to distant scenes I castF2
And the glad objects that once charmed my sightE2
Remember like soft views of faerie pastF2
-
I see thee come half smiling to my bedG2
With Fortitude more awfully severeM
Whose arm sustaining holds my drooping headG2
Who dries with her dark locks the tender tearM
-
O firmer Spirit on some craggy heightE2
Who when the tempest sails aloft dost standH2
And hear'st the ceaseless billows of the nightE2
Rolling upon the solitary strandH2
-
At this sad hour when no harsh thoughts intrudeI2
To mar the melancholy mind's reposeJ2
When I am left to night and solitudeI2
And languid life seems verging to its closeK2
-
Oh let me thy pervading influence feelL2
Be every weak and wayward thought repressedM2
And hide thou as with plates of coldest steelL2
The faded aspect and the throbbing breastM2
-
Silent the motley pageant may retreatG
And vain mortality's brief scenes removeN2
Yet let my bosom whilst with life it beatG
Breathe a last prayer for all on earth I loveI
-
Slow creeping pain weighs down my heavy eyeS
A chiller faintness steals upon my breastM2
O gentle Muse with some sweet lullabyS
Rock me in long forgetfulness to restM2

William Lisle Bowles



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