Riddles Of Merlin

Alfred Noyes 1880 (Wolverhampton) – 1958 (Isle of Wight)



As I was walking
Alone by the sea,
'_What is that whisper?_'
Said Merlin to me.
'Only,' I answered,
'The sigh of the wave'--
'_Oh, no_,' replied Merlin,
'_'Tis the grass on your grave_.'

As I lay dreaming
In churchyard ground
'_Listen_,' said Merlin,
'_What is that sound_?'
'The green grass is growing,'
I answered; but he
Chuckled, '_Oh, no!
'Tis the sound of the sea_.'

As I went homeward
At dusk by the shore,
'_What is that crimson?_'
Said Merlin once more.
'Only the sun,' I said.
'Sinking to rest'--
'_Sunset for East_,' he said,
'_Sunrise for West_.'

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

31 sec read
78

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABCBDEFE AXFDABXB DCFCGXGD
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 543
Words 113
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8

Alfred Noyes

Alfred Noyes was an English poet best known for his ballads The Highwayman 1906 and The Barrel Organ more…

All Alfred Noyes poems | Alfred Noyes Books

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