The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB CDCD EFEF. Each four-line stanza follows this alternating rhyme pattern.
O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power
Dost hold Time's fickle glass, his sickle, hour;
Who hast by waning grown, and therein show'st
Thy lovers withering, as thy sweet self grow'st.
If Nature, sovereign mistress over wrack,
As thou goest onwards, still will pluck thee back,
She keeps thee to this purpose, that her skill
May time disgrace and wretched minutes kill.
Yet fear her, O thou minion of her pleasure!
She may detain, but not still keep, her treasure:
Her audit (though delayed) answered must be,
And her quietus is to render thee.
-William Shakespeare
What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?
AABB CCDD EEFF
ABAB CDCD EFEF
AAAB CCCD EEEF
AAAA BBBB CCCC
ABBA CDDC EFFE
1 answer