Captivity Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEFE DGHI JKCK HLCM NOPO QRQR QHDH CHSH QHQH| The lion remembers the forest | A |
| The lion in chains | B |
| To the bird that is captive a vision | C |
| Of woodland remains | B |
| - | |
| One strains with his strength at the fetter | D |
| In impotent rage | E |
| One flutters in flights of a moment | F |
| And beats at the cage | E |
| - | |
| If the lion were loosed from the fetter | D |
| To wander again | G |
| He would seek the wide silence and shadow | H |
| Of his jungle in vain | I |
| - | |
| He would rage in his fury destroying | J |
| Let him rage let him roam | K |
| Shall he traverse the pitiless mountain | C |
| Or swim through the foam | K |
| - | |
| If they opened the cage and the casement | H |
| And the bird flew away | L |
| He would come back at evening heartbroken | C |
| A captive for aye | M |
| - | |
| Would come if his kindred had spared him | N |
| Free birds from afar | O |
| There was wrought what is stronger than iron | P |
| In fetter and bar | O |
| - | |
| I cannot remember my country | Q |
| The land whence I came | R |
| Whence they brought me and chained me and made me | Q |
| Nor wild thing nor tame | R |
| - | |
| This only I know of my country | Q |
| This only repeat | H |
| It was free as the forest and sweeter | D |
| Than woodland retreat | H |
| - | |
| When the chain shall at last be broken | C |
| The window set wide | H |
| And I step in the largeness and freedom | S |
| Of sunlight outside | H |
| - | |
| Shall I wander in vain for my country | Q |
| Shall I seek and not find | H |
| Shall I cry for the bars that encage me | Q |
| The fetters that bind | H |
Amy Levy
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Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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