The Old Land And The Young Land Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABC DEDEE FAFA GHGH IJIJ J DKDK LBMBB NOPO QRQRR STST UKUKK| The Young Land said I have borne it long | A |
| But can suffer it now no more | B |
| I must end this endless inhuman wrong | A |
| Within hail of my own free shore | B |
| So fling out the war flag's folds and let the righteous cannons roar '' | C |
| - | |
| 'Twas a quick rash word for the strong Young Land | D |
| Is a Land whose ways are peace | E |
| It weareth no mail and its keels are manned | D |
| With cotton and corn and fleece | E |
| While lands there are that live cased in steel and whose war hammers never cease | E |
| - | |
| And these when they saw the Young Land gird | F |
| Its loins to redress the wrong | A |
| Whispered one to the other Its heart is stirred | F |
| But its hosts are an undrilled throng | A |
| And its bolts yet to forge so quick let us strike before that it grows too strong '' | - |
| - | |
| And they said to the Old Land Surely you | G |
| Will help us to foil its claim | H |
| It waxeth in strength as striplings do | G |
| And it girds at its parent's name | H |
| Take heed lest its overweening growth overshadow your fading fame '' | - |
| - | |
| Then the Old Land said Youth is strong and quick | I |
| And Wisdom is strong but mild | J |
| And blood than water is yet more thick | I |
| And this Young Land is my child | J |
| I am proud not jealous to watch it grow '' | - |
| Thus the Old Land spake and smiled | J |
| - | |
| And look you '' it said at the strong Young Land | D |
| Strike for Freedom and Freedom's growth | K |
| Which makes 'twixt us twain though unsigned by hand | D |
| A bond strong as lovers' troth | K |
| So 'ware what you do for if you strike you will strike not one but both '' | - |
| - | |
| Then they fretted and chafed for though shod in steel | L |
| Their war tread stops at the shore | B |
| While the Old Land's breath is the breath of the gale | M |
| And its music the wave wind's roar | B |
| Then they hated the Young Land's youth and strength but they hated the Old Land more | B |
| - | |
| Now the Old Land in turn for Freedom's Cause | N |
| Speeds her sons to the Southern zone | O |
| They snarl Let us clip the Lion's claws | P |
| The Lion that stands alone | O |
| And harry her lair and spear her cubs and sit on the Lion's throne '' | - |
| - | |
| And the Young Land laughs With her foamsteeds fleet | Q |
| I guess she's a match for you all | R |
| She hath saddled the sea and more firm her seat | Q |
| Than yours that would ride for a fall | R |
| If you put all your fighting force afield and charged at her watery wall | R |
| - | |
| But if ever hemmed in by a world of foes | S |
| Her sinews were sorely tried | T |
| By the self same blood in our veins that flows | S |
| You would find me at her side | T |
| So long as she strikes for the Cause for which her sons and my sons have died '' | - |
| - | |
| And thus let it be until wrong shall end | U |
| This bond strong as lovers' troth | K |
| 'Twixt Old Land and Young Land to defend | U |
| Man's freedom and freedom's growth | K |
| So if any should band against either now they must meet not one but both | K |
Alfred Austin
(1)
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