Bess Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHAIJ KACLMNOPAQR| Ours are the streets where Bess first met her | A |
| cancer She went to work every day past the | B |
| secure houses At her job in the library | C |
| she arranged better and better flowers and when | D |
| students asked for books her hand went out | E |
| to help In the last year of her life | F |
| she had to keep her friends from knowing | G |
| how happy they were She listened while they | H |
| complained about food or work or the weather | A |
| And the great national events danced | I |
| their grotesque fake importance Always | J |
| - | |
| - | |
| Pain moved where she moved She walked | K |
| ahead it came She hid it found her | A |
| No one ever served another so truly | C |
| no enemy ever meant so strong a hate | L |
| It was almost as if there was no room | M |
| left for her on earth But she remembered | N |
| where joy used to live She straightened its flowers | O |
| she did not weep when she passed its houses | P |
| and when finally she pulled into a tiny corner | A |
| and slipped from pain her hand opened | Q |
| again and the streets opened and she wished all well | R |
William Stafford
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Bess poem by William Stafford
Best Poems of William Stafford