The Midnight Mass Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBCDE FGFHIGJKJLDK MNMNON FPFPAP QRQRSR TU TUVU WQQQXQ YZYZA2Z B2C2B2C2UC2 ED2ED2E2D2 F2G2F2G2H2G2 I2J2I2J2K2J2 L2M2L2 M2N2M2 O2P2O2P2Q2P2 R2CR2CS2E QT2QU2A2V2 W2DW2DX2D

An incident of the French RevolutionA
The light lay trembling in a silver barB
Along the western borders of the skyC
From out the shadowy dome a little starB
Stole forth to keep its patient watch on highC
And night came down with solemn soft embraceD
On storied BrittanyE
-
Another night lay over all the landF
The dark of hell and lurid with its fireG
She heard the roar of fiends she saw the brandF
Flung red and hissing over roof and spireH
She saw her golden spurs and reaping hooksI
Tossed on the funeral pyreG
She stood in calm defiance while the floodJ
Swept over her while everywhere was seenK
Her dim majestic cities drenched in bloodJ
Ashes and smoke where temple walls had beenL
And high on woodland knoll and market placeD
The ghastly guillotineK
-
'Twas hard to tear her peasant souls apartM
From priest and liege and clinging faith of oldN
'Twas hard to bend the strong and simple heartM
By fear of torture or by love of goldN
For naught those gory hands could offer themO
Might consciences be soldN
-
No tower or belfry shall be left to standF
Saint Andr swore and waved his cap of redP
You shall have naught in all this curs d landF
For sign of your superstition it is deadP
A peasant heard and raised his eyes to heavenA
You'll leave the stars he saidP
-
True were the priests and people each to eachQ
And all alike to their unlettered creedR
No violent force of sophistry could reachQ
Their rough hewn faith in bitter time of needR
They died with deaf ears and dumb mouths and theirsS
Was martyrdom indeedR
-
Night midnight lay beneath her silver lampsT
Her deep sleep broken by the fitful glareU
-
Of bivouac fires in noisy village campsT
And hoarse shouts mellowed through the listening airU
Save only where the sea waves washed the coastV
'Twas still and quiet thereU
-
The heave and swell and sudden plunging dashW
Against the low rocks lying in their reachQ
The hissing shingle and the sweet free plashQ
Of long drawn breakers on the open beachQ
And now and then in momentary pauseX
The curlew's mournful screechQ
-
The soft low gurgle in the hollowed trackY
Through reef and boulder and the rippling fallZ
Of idle wandering waters swirling backY
From secret tryst in Naiads' rocky hallZ
Only these sounds save that deep monotoneA2
Which held and hushed them allZ
-
Only these sounds Was nothing to be heardB2
But voice of breaker as it rose and fellC2
The kelpie's song the wailing of a birdB2
Ay far and faint amid the restless swellC2
One other voice stole whispering through the airU
The chime of a silver bellC2
-
It came from dim mid ocean wild and freeE
To listening ears in silence of the nightD2
And watchful eyes saw out upon the seaE
And 'neath the stars a little twinkling lightD2
Now lost behind a waving mountain topE2
Now shining clear and brightD2
-
Softly the fishers' boats began to glideF2
From shadowy rock and sheltered cave and creekG2
Bronzed men and gentle maidens side by sideF2
Dipped muffled oars no woman hand was weakG2
All eyes turned wistful to the beacon lampH2
But no one dared to speakG2
-
The scattered specks with each its little crowdI2
Drew near converging on the distant barkJ2
The sweet bell rang out louder and more loudI2
The light shone bright and brighter in the darkJ2
And soon a hundred lips burst forth in praiseK2
For all had reach'd the arkJ2
-
There was the priest with whom they came to supL2
White hair'd and holy by his humble boardM2
There amid light and darkness lifted upL2
-
The blessed rood by simple eyes adoredM2
Each head was bowed each pious knee was bentN2
In presence of the LordM2
-
Ah 'twas a grand cathedral where they kneltO2
Grand was the organ music vast the cryptP2
Wherein its wild mysterious echoes dweltO2
And fresh and pure the incense as it slipp'dP2
Down shining floor and down wide altar stepsQ2
With frosted silver tipp'dP2
-
Grand was the darken'd aisles and solemn naveR2
The dom d roof magnificently highC
The airy walls and mighty architraveR2
The sweet star tapers that could never dieC
And grander still its purity of peaceS2
Its untouched sanctityE
-
The worn and weary ones came there to searchQ
For rest and hope in holy EucharistT2
There in the splendour of that solemn churchQ
They priest and people communed with the ChristU2
Thus with all other temples overthrownA2
They kept his sacred trystV2
-
With calm grave eyes and even pulsing breathW2
They dipp'd their still oars in the darken'd spaceD
Strong now the hands fast rowing back to deathW2
And strong the simple hearts new clothed in graceD
The hush'd and quiet souls ere long to meetX2
Their Saviour face to faceD

Ada Cambridge



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about The Midnight Mass poem by Ada Cambridge


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 6 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets