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To Elia by John Clare

Analysis

"To Elia" is a poem by John Clare that was supposedly written to a woman named Elia. It describes his great love and romantic feelings towards the woman. The rhyme scheme is a,b,a,b,c,d,c,d,e,f,e,g,h,g,h--a total of fourteen lines that make up only one stanza.

The alternating rhyme scheme along with Clare hovering around the ten syllables throughout the writing allow the reader to maintain a strong rhythm. The punctuation also allows the reader to gain knowledge about the meaning and emotions of the writing.

Poem

To Elia
By 

Elia, thy reveries and visioned themes
To care's lorn heart a luscious pleasure prove;
Wild as the mystery of delightful dreams,
Soft as the anguish of remembered love:
Like records of past days their memory dances
Mid the cool feelings manhood's reason brings,
As the unearthly visions of romances
Peopled with sweet and uncreated things;--
And yet thy themes thy gentle worth enhances!
Then wake again thy wild harp's tenderest strings,
Sing on, sweet Bard, let fairy loves again
Smile in thy dreams, with angel ecstasies;
Bright over our souls will break the heavenly strain
Through the dull gloom of earth's realities.

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