Concepcion De Arguello Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BB CC DD AA EE FF A GG HH II JJ GG KK A GG LL LL KK AA KK KK LL MM LL GG NN O NN PP KK KK KK KK KK KK QQ RR LL DD KK KK SS DD LL TT KK KK

IA
-
Looking seaward o'er the sand hills stands the fortress old and quaintB
By the San Francisco friars lifted to their patron saintB
-
Sponsor to that wondrous city now apostate to the creedC
On whose youthful walls the Padre saw the angel's golden reedC
-
All its trophies long since scattered all its blazon brushed awayD
And the flag that flies above it but a triumph of to dayD
-
Never scar of siege or battle challenges the wandering eyeA
Never breach of warlike onset holds the curious passer byA
-
Only one sweet human fancy interweaves its threads of goldE
With the plain and homespun present and a love that ne'er grows oldE
-
Only one thing holds its crumbling walls above the meaner dustF
Listen to the simple story of a woman's love and trustF
-
IIA
-
Count von Resanoff the Russian envoy of the mighty CzarG
Stood beside the deep embrasures where the brazen cannon areG
-
He with grave provincial magnates long had held serene debateH
On the Treaty of Alliance and the high affairs of stateH
-
He from grave provincial magnates oft had turned to talk apartI
With the Commandante's daughter on the questions of the heartI
-
Until points of gravest import yielded slowly one by oneJ
And by Love was consummated what Diplomacy begunJ
-
Till beside the deep embrasures where the brazen cannon areG
He received the twofold contract for approval of the CzarG
-
Till beside the brazen cannon the betrothed bade adieuK
And from sallyport and gateway north the Russian eagles flewK
-
IIIA
-
Long beside the deep embrasures where the brazen cannon areG
Did they wait the promised bridegroom and the answer of the CzarG
-
Day by day on wall and bastion beat the hollow empty breezeL
Day by day the sunlight glittered on the vacant smiling seasL
-
Week by week the near hills whitened in their dusty leather cloaksL
Week by week the far hills darkened from the fringing plain of oaksL
-
Till the rains came and far breaking on the fierce southwester tostK
Dashed the whole long coast with color and then vanished and were lostK
-
So each year the seasons shifted wet and warm and drear and dryA
Half a year of clouds and flowers half a year of dust and skyA
-
Still it brought no ship nor message brought no tidings ill or meetK
For the statesmanlike Commander for the daughter fair and sweetK
-
Yet she heard the varying message voiceless to all ears besideK
He will come the flowers whispered Come no more the dry hills sighedK
-
Still she found him with the waters lifted by the morning breezeL
Still she lost him with the folding of the great white tented seasL
-
Until hollows chased the dimples from her cheeks of olive brownM
And at times a swift shy moisture dragged the long sweet lashes downM
-
Or the small mouth curved and quivered as for some denied caressL
And the fair young brow was knitted in an infantine distressL
-
Then the grim Commander pacing where the brazen cannon areG
Comforted the maid with proverbs wisdom gathered from afarG
-
Bits of ancient observation by his fathers garnered eachN
As a pebble worn and polished in the current of his speechN
-
'Those who wait the coming rider travel twice as far as he '-
'Tired wench and coming butter never did in time agree '-
-
'He that getteth himself honey though a clown he shall have flies '-
'In the end God grinds the miller ' 'In the dark the mole has eyes '-
-
'He whose father is Alcalde of his trial hath no fear '-
And be sure the Count has reasons that will make his conduct clearO
-
Then the voice sententious faltered and the wisdom it would teachN
Lost itself in fondest trifles of his soft Castilian speechN
-
And on Concha Conchitita and Conchita he would dwellP
With the fond reiteration which the Spaniard knows so wellP
-
So with proverbs and caresses half in faith and half in doubtK
Every day some hope was kindled flickered faded and went outK
-
IV-
-
Yearly down the hillside sweeping came the stately cavalcadeK
Bringing revel to vaquero joy and comfort to each maidK
-
Bringing days of formal visit social feast and rustic sportK
Of bull baiting on the plaza of love making in the courtK
-
Vainly then at Concha's lattice vainly as the idle windK
Rose the thin high Spanish tenor that bespoke the youth too kindK
-
Vainly leaning from their saddles caballeros bold and fleetK
Plucked for her the buried chicken from beneath their mustang's feetK
-
So in vain the barren hillsides with their gay serapes blazedK
Blazed and vanished in the dust cloud that their flying hoofs had raisedK
-
Then the drum called from the rampart and once more with patient mienQ
The Commander and his daughter each took up the dull routineQ
-
Each took up the petty duties of a life apart and loneR
Till the slow years wrought a music in its dreary monotoneR
-
V-
-
Forty years on wall and bastion swept the hollow idle breezeL
Since the Russian eagle fluttered from the California seasL
-
Forty years on wall and bastion wrought its slow but sure decayD
And St George's cross was lifted in the port of MontereyD
-
And the citadel was lighted and the hall was gayly drestK
All to honor Sir George Simpson famous traveler and guestK
-
Far and near the people gathered to the costly banquet setK
And exchanged congratulations with the English baronetK
-
Till the formal speeches ended and amidst the laugh and wineS
Some one spoke of Concha's lover heedless of the warning signS
-
Quickly then cried Sir George Simpson Speak no ill of him I prayD
He is dead He died poor fellow forty years ago this dayD
-
Died while speeding home to Russia falling from a fractious horseL
Left a sweetheart too they tell me Married I suppose of courseL
-
Lives she yet A deathlike silence fell on banquet guests and hallT
And a trembling figure rising fixed the awestruck gaze of allT
-
Two black eyes in darkened orbits gleamed beneath the nun's white hoodK
Black serge hid the wasted figure bowed and stricken where it stoodK
-
Lives she yet Sir George repeated All were hushed as Concha drewK
Closer yet her nun's attire Senor pardon she died tooK

Bret Harte (francis)



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