Barbara Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AAABBCD DDDEEED FFFGGGD DDDHIID JJJKKKD LLMNNND NNNDDDD OPODDDD| On the Sabbath day | A |
| Through the churchyard old and gray | A |
| Over the crisp and yellow leaves I held my rustling way | A |
| And amid the words of mercy falling on my soul like balms | B |
| 'Mid the gorgeous storms of music in the mellow organ calms | B |
| 'Mid the upward streaming prayers and the rich and solemn psalms | C |
| I stood careless Barbara | D |
| - | |
| My heart was otherwhere | D |
| While the organ shook the air | D |
| And the priest with outspread hands bless'd the people with a prayer | D |
| But when rising to go homeward with a mild and saintlike shine | E |
| Gleam'd a face of airy beauty with its heavenly eyes on mine | E |
| Gleam'd and vanish'd in a moment O that face was surely thine | E |
| Out of heaven Barbara | D |
| - | |
| O pallid pallid face | F |
| O earnest eyes of grace | F |
| When last I saw thee dearest it was in another place | F |
| You came running forth to meet me with my love gift on your wrist | G |
| The flutter of a long white dress then all was lost in mist | G |
| A purple stain of agony was on the mouth I kiss'd | G |
| That wild morning Barbara | D |
| - | |
| I search'd in my despair | D |
| Sunny noon and midnight air | D |
| I could not drive away the thought that you were lingering there | D |
| O many and many a winter night I sat when you were gone | H |
| My worn face buried in my hands beside the fire alone | I |
| Within the dripping churchyard the rain plashing on your stone | I |
| You were sleeping Barbara | D |
| - | |
| 'Mong angels do you think | J |
| Of the precious golden link | J |
| I clasp'd around your happy arm while sitting by yon brink | J |
| Or when that night of gliding dance of laughter and guitars | K |
| Was emptied of its music and we watch'd through lattice bars | K |
| The silent midnight heaven creeping o'er us with its stars | K |
| Till the day broke Barbara | D |
| - | |
| In the years I've changed | L |
| Wild and far my heart has ranged | L |
| And many sins and errors now have been on me avenged | M |
| But to you I have been faithful whatsoever good I lack'd | N |
| I loved you and above my life still hangs that love intact | N |
| Your love the trembling rainbow I the reckless cataract | N |
| Still I love you Barbara | D |
| - | |
| Yet Love I am unblest | N |
| With many doubts opprest | N |
| I wander like the desert wind without a place of rest | N |
| Could I but win you for an hour from off that starry shore | D |
| The hunger of my soul were still'd for Death hath told you more | D |
| Than the melancholy world doth know things deeper than all lore | D |
| You could teach me Barbara | D |
| - | |
| In vain in vain in vain | O |
| You will never come again | P |
| There droops upon the dreary hills a mournful fringe of rain | O |
| The gloaming closes slowly round loud winds are in the tree | D |
| Round selfish shores for ever moans the hurt and wounded sea | D |
| There is no rest upon the earth peace is with Death and thee | D |
| Barbara | D |
Alexander Smith
(1)
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