Concepcion De Arguello Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCC DD EE FF GG HH II JJ KK HH LL HH MM MM LNL LL LML MM OO MM HH PP Q PP RR LL LL LL LL LL LLL LSS TT MM EE LL LL UU EE MM LVV LL LL

Presidio De San FranciscoA
-
-
I-
-
Looking seaward o'er the sand hills stands the fortress old andB
quaintC
By the San Francisco friars lifted to their patron saintC
-
Sponsor to that wondrous city now apostate to the creedD
On whose youthful walls the Padre saw the angel's golden reedD
-
All its trophies long since scattered all its blazon brushed awayE
And the flag that flies above it but a triumph of to dayE
-
Never scar of siege or battle challenges the wandering eye-
Never breach of warlike onset holds the curious passer by-
-
Only one sweet human fancy interweaves its threads of goldF
With the plain and homespun present and a love that ne'er grows oldF
-
Only one thing holds its crumbling walls above the meaner dustG
Listen to the simple story of a woman's love and trustG
-
II-
-
Count von Resanoff the Russian envoy of the mighty CzarH
Stood beside the deep embrasures where the brazen cannon areH
-
He with grave provincial magnates long had held serene debateI
On the Treaty of Alliance and the high affairs of stateI
-
He from grave provincial magnates oft had turned to talk apartJ
With the Commandante's daughter on the questions of the heartJ
-
Until points of gravest import yielded slowly one by oneK
And by Love was consummated what Diplomacy begunK
-
Till beside the deep embrasures where the brazen cannon areH
He received the twofold contract for approval of the CzarH
-
Till beside the brazen cannon the betrothed bade adieuL
And from sallyport and gateway north the Russian eagles flewL
-
III-
-
Long beside the deep embrasures where the brazen cannon areH
Did they wait the promised bridegroom and the answer of the CzarH
-
Day by day on wall and bastion beat the hollow empty breezeM
Day by day the sunlight glittered on the vacant smiling seasM
-
Week by week the near hills whitened in their dusty leather cloaksM
Week by week the far hills darkened from the fringing plain of oaksM
-
Till the rains came and far breaking on the fierce southwester tostL
Dashed the whole long coast with color and then vanished and wereN
lostL
-
So each year the seasons shifted wet and warm and drear and dry-
Half a year of clouds and flowers half a year of dust and sky-
-
Still it brought no ship nor message brought no tidings ill or meetL
For the statesmanlike Commander for the daughter fair and sweetL
-
Yet she heard the varying message voiceless to all ears besideL
He will come the flowers whispered Come no more the dry hillsM
sighedL
-
Still she found him with the waters lifted by the morning breezeM
Still she lost him with the folding of the great white tented seasM
-
Until hollows chased the dimples from her cheeks of olive brownO
And at times a swift shy moisture dragged the long sweet lashes downO
-
Or the small mouth curved and quivered as for some denied caressM
And the fair young brow was knitted in an infantine distressM
-
Then the grim Commander pacing where the brazen cannon areH
Comforted the maid with proverbs wisdom gathered from afarH
-
Bits of ancient observation by his fathers garnered eachP
As a pebble worn and polished in the current of his speechP
-
'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 clearQ
-
Then the voice sententious faltered and the wisdom it would teachP
Lost itself in fondest trifles of his soft Castilian speechP
-
And on Concha Conchitita and Conchita he would dwellR
With the fond reiteration which the Spaniard knows so wellR
-
So with proverbs and caresses half in faith and half in doubtL
Every day some hope was kindled flickered faded and went outL
-
IV-
-
Yearly down the hillside sweeping came the stately cavalcadeL
Bringing revel to vaquero joy and comfort to each maidL
-
Bringing days of formal visit social feast and rustic sportL
Of bull baiting on the plaza of love making in the courtL
-
Vainly then at Concha's lattice vainly as the idle windL
Rose the thin high Spanish tenor that bespoke the youth too kindL
-
Vainly leaning from their saddles caballeros bold and fleetL
Plucked for her the buried chicken from beneath their mustang's feetL
-
So in vain the barren hillsides with their gay serapes blazedL
Blazed and vanished in the dust cloud that their flying hoofs hadL
raisedL
-
Then the drum called from the rampart and once more with patientL
mienS
The Commander and his daughter each took up the dull routineS
-
Each took up the petty duties of a life apart and loneT
Till the slow years wrought a music in its dreary monotoneT
-
V-
-
Forty years on wall and bastion swept the hollow idle breezeM
Since the Russian eagle fluttered from the California seasM
-
Forty years on wall and bastion wrought its slow but sure decayE
And St George's cross was lifted in the port of MontereyE
-
And the citadel was lighted and the hall was gayly drestL
All to honor Sir George Simpson famous traveler and guestL
-
Far and near the people gathered to the costly banquet setL
And exchanged congratulations with the English baronetL
-
Till the formal speeches ended and amidst the laugh and wineU
Some one spoke of Concha's lover heedless of the warning signU
-
Quickly then cried Sir George Simpson Speak no ill of him I prayE
He is dead He died poor fellow forty years ago this dayE
-
Died while speeding home to Russia falling from a fractious horseM
Left a sweetheart too they tell me Married I suppose of courseM
-
Lives she yet A deathlike silence fell on banquet guests andL
hallV
And a trembling figure rising fixed the awestruck gaze of allV
-
Two black eyes in darkened orbits gleamed beneath the nun's white hoodL
Black serge hid the wasted figure bowed and stricken where it stoodL
-
Lives she yet Sir George repeated All were hushed as Concha drewL
Closer yet her nun's attire Senor pardon she died tooL

Bret Harte



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