Ode In Memory Of The American Volunteers Fallen For France Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABC CDCCDDDEDEDDFFD GDDGDDDDHHHH HIHIHJHKJK D LDDMDDDDDDDNODDDDDPD PDDDQQDDDDDHDHHHHH D HHHHHHRRHSSHDTDTJDTJ HHHH

To have been read before the statue ofA
Lafayette and Washington in ParisB
on Decoration Day MayC
-
-
I-
-
Ay it is fitting on this holidayC
Commemorative of our soldier deadD
When with sweet flowers of our New England MayC
Hiding the lichened stones by fifty years made grayC
Their graves in every town are garlandedD
That pious tribute should be given tooD
To our intrepid fewD
Obscurely fallen here beyond the seasE
Those to preserve their country's greatness diedD
But by the death of theseE
Something that we can look upon with prideD
Has been achieved nor wholly unrepliedD
Can sneerers triumph in the charge they makeF
That from a war where Freedom was at stakeF
America withheld and daunted stood asideD
-
II-
-
Be they remembered here with each reviving springG
Not only that in May when life is loveliestD
Around Neuville Saint Vaast and the disputed crestD
Of Vimy they superb unfalteringG
In that fine onslaught that no fire could haltD
Parted impetuous to their first assaultD
But that they brought fresh hearts and springlike tooD
To that high mission and 'tis meet to strewD
With twigs of lilac and spring's earliest roseH
The cenotaph of thoseH
Who in the cause that history most endearsH
Fell in the sunny morn and flower of their young yearsH
-
III-
-
Yet sought they neither recompense nor praiseH
Nor to be mentioned in another breathI
Than their blue coated comrades whose great daysH
It was their pride to share ay share even to the deathI
Nay rather France to you they rendered thanksH
Seeing they came for honor not for gainJ
Who opening to them your glorious ranksH
Gave them that grand occasion to excelK
That chance to live the life most free from stainJ
And that rare privilege of dying wellK
-
IVD
-
O friends I know not since that war beganL
From which no people nobly stands aloofD
If in all moments we have given proofD
Of virtues that were thought AmericanM
I know not if in all things done and saidD
All has been well and goodD
Or if each one of us can hold his headD
As proudly as he shouldD
Or from the pattern of those mighty deadD
Whose shades our country venerates to dayD
If we've not somewhat fallen and somewhat gone astrayD
But you to whom our land's good name is dearN
If there be any hereO
Who wonder if her manhood be decreasedD
Relaxed its sinews and its blood less redD
Than that at Shiloh and Antietam shedD
Be proud of these have joy in this at leastD
And cry Now heaven be praisedD
That in that hour that most imperilled herP
Menaced her liberty who foremost raisedD
Europe's bright flag of freedom some there wereP
Who not unmindful of the antique debtD
Came back the generous path of LafayetteD
And when of a most formidable foeD
She checked each onset arduous to stemQ
Foiled and frustrated themQ
On those red fields where blow with furious blowD
Was countered whether the gigantic frayD
Rolled by the Meuse or at the Bois SabotD
Accents of ours were in the fierce meleeD
And on those furthest rims of hallowed groundD
Where the forlorn the gallant charge expiresH
When the slain bugler has long ceased to soundD
And on the tangled wiresH
The last wild rally staggers crumbles stopsH
Withered beneath the shrapnel's iron showersH
Now heaven be thanked we gave a few brave dropsH
Now heaven be thanked a few brave drops were oursH
-
VD
-
There holding still in frozen steadfastnessH
Their bayonets toward the beckoning frontiersH
They lie our comrades lie among their peersH
Clad in the glory of fallen warriorsH
Grim clusters under thorny trellisesH
Dry furthest foam upon disastrous shoresH
Leaves that made last year beautiful still strewnR
Even as they fell unchanged beneath the changing moonR
And earth in her divine indifferenceH
Rolls on and many paltry things and meanS
Prate to be heard and caper to be seenS
But they are silent calm their eloquenceH
Is that incomparable attitudeD
No human presences their witness areT
But summer clouds and sunset crimson huedD
And showers and night winds and the northern starT
Nay even our salutations seem profaneJ
Opposed to their Elysian quietudeD
Our salutations calling from afarT
From our ignobler planeJ
And undistinction of our lesser partsH
Hail brothers and farewell you are twice blest brave heartsH
Double your glory is who perished thusH
For you have died for France and vindicated usH

Alan Seeger



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Ode In Memory Of The American Volunteers Fallen For France poem by Alan Seeger


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 0 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