Rippling Water Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABAAABCDCE FGFGFFFGHIJE KLKLMMMLNENE OGOGPPPGQEQE RBRMSSSBTETE EUEUEEEUVEVE AWAWAAAWXEXE| The maiden sat by the river side | A |
| The rippling water murmurs by | B |
| And sadly into the clear blue tide | A |
| The salt tear fell from her clear blue eye | B |
| 'Tis fixed for better for worse she cried | A |
| And to morrow the bridegroom claims the bride | A |
| Oh wealth and power and rank and pride | A |
| Can surely peace and happiness buy | B |
| I was merry nathless in my girlhood's hours | C |
| 'Mid the waving grass when the bright sun shone | D |
| Shall I be as merry in Marmaduke's towers | C |
| The rippling water murmurs on | E |
| - | |
| Stephen works for his daily bread | F |
| The rippling water murmurs low | G |
| Through the crazy thatch that covers his head | F |
| The rain drops fall and the wind gusts blow | G |
| I'll mend the old roof tree so he said | F |
| And repair the cottage when we are wed | F |
| And my pulses throbb'd and my cheek grew red | F |
| When he kiss'd me that was long ago | G |
| Stephen and I should we meet again | H |
| Not as we've met in days that are gone | I |
| Will my pulses throb with pleasure or pain | J |
| The rippling water murmurs on | E |
| - | |
| Old Giles the gardener strok'd my curls | K |
| The rippling water murmurs past | L |
| Quoth he In laces and silks and pearls | K |
| My child will see her reflection cast | L |
| Now I trust in my heart that your lord will be | M |
| Kinder to you than he was to me | M |
| When I lay in the gaol and my children three | M |
| With their sickly mother kept bitter fast | L |
| With Marmaduke now my will is law | N |
| Marmaduke's will may be law anon | E |
| Does the sheath of velvet cover the claw | N |
| The rippling water murmurs on | E |
| - | |
| Dame Martha patted me on the cheek | O |
| The rippling water murmurs low | G |
| Saying There are words that I fain would speak | O |
| Perhaps they were best unspoken though | G |
| I can't persuade you to change your mind | P |
| And useless warnings are scarcely kind | P |
| And I may be foolish as well as blind | P |
| But take my blessing whether or no | G |
| Dame Martha's wise though her hair is white | Q |
| Her sense is good though her sight is gone | E |
| Can she really be gifted with second sight | Q |
| The rippling water murmurs on | E |
| - | |
| Brian of Hawksmede came to our cot | R |
| The rippling water murmurs by | B |
| Scatter'd the sods of our garden plot | R |
| Riding his roan horse recklessly | M |
| Trinket and token and tress of hair | S |
| He flung them down at the door step there | S |
| Said Elsie ask your lord if you dare | S |
| Who gave him the blow as well as the lie | B |
| That evening I mentioned Brian's name | T |
| And Marmaduke's face grew white and wan | E |
| Am I pledged to one of a spirit so tame | T |
| The rippling water murmurs on | E |
| - | |
| Brian is headstrong rash and vain | E |
| The rippling water murmurs still | U |
| Stephen is somewhat duller of brain | E |
| Slower of speech and milder of will | U |
| Stephen must toil a living to gain | E |
| Plough and harrow and gather the grain | E |
| Brian has little enough to maintain | E |
| The station in life which he needs must fill | U |
| Both are fearless and kind and frank | V |
| But we can't win all gifts under the sun | E |
| What have I won save riches and rank | V |
| The rippling water murmurs on | E |
| - | |
| Riches and rank and what beside | A |
| The rippling water murmurs yet | W |
| The mansion is stately the manor is wide | A |
| Their lord for a while may pamper and pet | W |
| Liveried lackeys may jeer aside | A |
| Though the peasant girl is their master's bride | A |
| At her shyness mingled with awkward pride | A |
| 'Twere folly for trifles like these to fret | W |
| But the love of one that I cannot love | X |
| Will it last when the gloss of his toy is gone | E |
| Is there naught beyond below or above | X |
| The rippling water murmurs on | E |
Adam Lindsay Gordon
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Rippling Water poem by Adam Lindsay Gordon
Best Poems of Adam Lindsay Gordon