A Vision Out West Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFFGG HHIIJJKK LLMMNNOOP QQRROO SSFFTTUUVV WWXYZZUU A2A2DDB2B2C2D2E2E2 F2F2G2G2H2H2I2I2EEJ2 J2K2L2QQM2M2 N2O2P2P2Far reaching down's a solid sea sunk everlastingly to rest | A |
And yet whose billows seem to be for ever heaving toward the west | A |
The tiny fieldmice make their nests the summer insects buzz and hum | B |
Among the hollows and the crests of this wide ocean stricken dumb | B |
Whose rollers move for ever on though sullenly with fettered wills | C |
To break in voiceless wrath upon the crumbled bases of far hills | C |
Where rugged outposts meet the shock stand fast and hurl them back again | D |
An avalanche of earth and rock in tumbled fragments on the plain | E |
But never heeding the rebuff to right and left they kiss the feet | F |
Of hanging cliff and bouldered bluff till on the farther side they meet | F |
And once again resume their march to where the afternoon sun dips | G |
Toward the west and Heaven's arch salutes the Earth with ruddy lips | G |
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Such is the scene that greets the eye wide sweep of plain to left and right | H |
In front low hills that seem to lie wrapped in a veil of yellow light | H |
Low peaks that through the summer haze frown from their fancied altitude | I |
As some small potentate might gaze upon a ragged multitude | I |
Thus does the battlemented pile of high built crags all weather scarred | J |
Where grass land stretches mile on mile keep scornful solitary guard | J |
Where the sweet spell is not yet broke while from her wind swept sun kissed dream | K |
Man's cruel touch has not yet woke this Land where silence reigns supreme | K |
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Not the grim silence of a cave some vaulted stalactited room | L |
Where feeble candle shadows wave fantastically through the gloom | L |
But restful silence calm repose the spirit of these sky bound plains | M |
Tempers the restless blood that flows too fiery through the swelling veins | M |
Breathes a faint message in the ear bringing the weary traveller peace | N |
Whispers Take heart and never fear for soon the pilgrimage will cease | N |
Beat not thy wings against the cage Seek not to burst the padlocked door | O |
That leads to depths thou canst not gauge Life is all thine why seek for more | O |
Read in the slow sun's drooping disc an answer to the thoughts that vex | P |
Ponder it well and never risk the substance for its dim reflex ' | - |
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Such is the silent sermon told to those who care to read this page | Q |
Where once a mighty ocean rolled in some dim long forgotten age | Q |
Here where the Mitchell grass waves green the never weary ebb and flow | R |
Of glassy surges once was seen a thousand thousand years ago | R |
To such a sum those dead years mount that Time has grown too weary for | O |
The keeping of an endless count and long ago forgot their score | O |
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But now when hustled by the wind fast flying fleecy cloud banks drift | S |
Across the sky where silver skinned the pale moon shines whene'er they lift | S |
And throws broad patches in strange shapes of light and shade that seem to meet | F |
In dusky coastline where sharp capes jut far into a winding sheet | F |
Of ghostly glimmering silver rays that struggle 'neath an inky ledge | T |
Of driving cloud and fill deep bays rent in the shadow's ragged edge | T |
Sprung from the gloomy depths of Time faint shapes patrol the spectral sea | U |
Primeval phantom forms that climb the lifeless billows silently | U |
Trailing along their slimy length in thirst for one another's blood | V |
Writhing in ponderous trials of strength as once they did before the flood | V |
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They sink as driven from the North by straining oar and favouring gale | W |
A misty barge repels the froth which hides her with a sparkling veil | W |
High curled the sharpened beak doth stand slicing the waters in the lead | X |
The low hull follows thickly manned by dim dead men of Asian breed | Y |
Swift is her passage short the view the wan moon's restless rays reveal | Z |
Of dusky fierce eyed warrior crew of fluttering cloth and flashing steel | Z |
Of forms that mouldered ages past ere from recesses of the sea | U |
With earthquake throes this land was cast in Nature's writhing agony | U |
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As the warm airs of Spring time chase reluctant snows from off the range | A2 |
And plant fresh verdure in their place so the dimvisioned shadows change | A2 |
And glimpses of what yet shall be bid the past fly beyond all ken | D |
While rising from futurity appear vast colonies of men | D |
Who from the sea coast hills have brought far quarried spoils to build proud homes | B2 |
Of high piled palaces all wrought in sloping roofs and arching domes | B2 |
Smooth pillared hall or cool arcade and slenderest sky piercing spire | C2 |
Where the late sinking moon has laid her tender tints of mellow fire | D2 |
And golden paves the spacious ways where o'er the smoothen granite flags | E2 |
The lightning driven car conveys its freight with force that never lags | E2 |
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A goodly city where no stain of engine smoke or factory grime | F2 |
Blemishes walls that will retain their pristine pureness for all time | F2 |
Lying as one might take a gem and set it in some strange device | G2 |
Of precious metal and might hem it round with stones of lesser price | G2 |
So from encircling fields doth spring this city where in emerald sheen | H2 |
Man hath taught Nature how to bring a mantle of perennial green | H2 |
Hewing canals whose banks are fringed by willows bending deeply down | I2 |
To waters flowing yellow tinged beneath the moon toward the town | I2 |
Filling from mighty reservoirs sunk in the hollows of the plain | E |
That flood the fields without a pause though Summer should withhold her rain | E |
Labour is but an empty name to those who dwell within this land | J2 |
For they have boldly learnt to tame the lightning's flash with iron hand | J2 |
That Force the dartings from whose eyes not even gods might brave and live | K2 |
The blasting essence of the skies proud Jupiter's prerogative | L2 |
His flashing pinions closely clipt pent in a cunning fashioned cage | Q |
Of all his flaming glory stript these men direct his tempered rage | Q |
A bondman at their idlest breath with silent energy he speeds | M2 |
From dawn of life to hour of death to execute their slightest needs | M2 |
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Slow to her couch the moon doth creep but going melts in sparkling tears | N2 |
Of dew because we may not keep this vision of the future years | O2 |
Swiftly before the sunrise gleam I watch it melting in the morn | P2 |
The snowy city of my dream the home of nations yet unborn | P2 |
Barcroft Henry Thomas Boake
(1)
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