Christmas,1870 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCCD DBEFFE GGHIIH JJKLLK MMNHHN OOPQQP RRSTTS TTBUUB VVWAAW XXLWWL YYZA2A2Z B2B2C2D2D2C2 E2EKEEK F2F2HG2G2H OOH2I2I2H2 J2Heaven strews the earth with snow | A |
That neither friend nor foe | A |
May break the sleep of the fast dying year | B |
A world arrayed in white | C |
Late dawns and shrouded light | C |
Attest to us once more that Christmas tide is here | D |
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And yet and yet I hear | D |
No strains of pious cheer | B |
No children singing round the Yule log fire | E |
No carol's sacred notes | F |
Warbled by infant throats | F |
On brooding mother's lap or knee of pleas d sire | E |
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Comes with the hallowed time | G |
No sweet accustomed chime | G |
No peal of bells athwart the midnight air | H |
No mimes or jocund waits | I |
Within wide opened gates | I |
Loud laughter in the hall or glee of children fair | H |
- | |
No loving cup sent round | J |
No footing of the ground | J |
No sister's kiss under the berried bough | K |
No chimney's joyous roar | L |
No hospitable store | L |
Though it be Christmas tide to make us note it now | K |
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No only human hate | M |
And fear and death and fate | M |
And fierce hands locked in fratricidal strife | N |
The distant hearth stripped bare | H |
By the gaunt guest Despair | H |
Pale groups of pining babes round lonely weeping wife | N |
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Can it be Christmas tide | O |
The snow with blood is dyed | O |
From human hearts wrung out by human hands | P |
Hark did not sweet bells peal | Q |
No 'twas the ring of steel | Q |
The clang of arm d men and shock of murderous bands | P |
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Didst Thou then really come | R |
Silence that dreadful drum | R |
Christ Saviour Babe of lowly Virgin born | S |
If Thou indeed Most High | T |
Didst in a manger lie | T |
Then be the Prince of Peace and save us from Hell's scorn | S |
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We weep if men deny | T |
That Thou didst live and die | T |
Didst ever walk upon this mortal sphere | B |
Yet of Thy Passion Lord | U |
What know these times abhorred | U |
Save the rude soldier's stripes sharp sponge and piercing spear | B |
- | |
Therefore we Father plead | V |
Grant us in this our need | V |
Another Revelation from Thy throne | W |
That we may surely know | A |
We are not sons of woe | A |
Forgotten and cast off but verily Thine own | W |
- | |
Yet if He came anew | X |
Where where would shelter due | X |
Be found for load divine and footsteps sore | L |
Here not the inns alone | W |
But fold and stable groan | W |
With sterner guests than drove sad Mary from the door | L |
- | |
And thou 'mong women blest | Y |
Who laidst with awe struck breast | Y |
Thy precious babe upon the lowly straw | Z |
Now for thy new born Son | A2 |
Were nook and cradle none | A2 |
If not in bloody trench or cannon's smoking jaw | Z |
- | |
Round her what alien rites | B2 |
What savage sounds and sights | B2 |
The plunging war horse and sulphureous match | C2 |
Than such as these alas | D2 |
Better the ox the ass | D2 |
The manger's crib secure and peace bestowing thatch | C2 |
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The trumpet's challenge dire | E2 |
Would hush the angelic choir | E |
The outpost's oath replace the Shepherd's vow | K |
No frankincense or myrrh | E |
Would there be brought to her | E |
For Wise Men kneel no more Kings are not humble now | K |
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O Lord O Lord how long | F2 |
Thou that art good art strong | F2 |
Put forth Thy strength Thy ruling love declare | H |
Stay Thou the smiting hand | G2 |
Invert the flaming brand | G2 |
And teach the proud to yield the omnipotent to spare | H |
- | |
Renew our Christmas tide | O |
Let weeping eyes be dried | O |
Love bloom afresh bloodshed and frenzy cease | H2 |
And at Thy bidding reign | I2 |
As in the heavenly strain | I2 |
Glory to God on high on earth perpetual peace | H2 |
- | |
above ready for slurp | J2 |
Alfred Austin
(1)
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