Crotalus Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABA CCC DDD EEE FFF GGG HHH III JJJ KKK III LLL III BBB MMM LLLNo life in earth or air or sky | A |
The sunbeams broken silently | B |
On the bared rocks around me lie | A |
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Cold rocks with half warmed lichens scarred | C |
And scales of moss and scarce a yard | C |
Away one long strip yellow barred | C |
- | |
Lost in a cleft 'Tis but a stride | D |
To reach it thrust its roots aside | D |
And lift it on thy stick astride | D |
- | |
Yet stay That moment is thy grace | E |
For round thee thrilling air and space | E |
A chattering terror fills the place | E |
- | |
A sound as of dry bones that stir | F |
In the dead Valley By yon fir | F |
The locust stops its noonday whir | F |
- | |
The wild bird hears smote with the sound | G |
As if by bullet brought to ground | G |
On broken wing dips wheeling round | G |
- | |
The hare transfixed with trembling lip | H |
Halts breathless on pulsating hip | H |
And palsied tread and heels that slip | H |
- | |
Enough old friend 'tis thou Forget | I |
My heedless foot nor longer fret | I |
The peace with thy grim castanet | I |
- | |
I know thee Yes Thou mayst forego | J |
That lifted crest the measured blow | J |
Beyond which thy pride scorns to go | J |
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Or yet retract For me no spell | K |
Lights those slit orbs where some think dwell | K |
Machicolated fires of hell | K |
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I only know thee humble bold | I |
Haughty with miseries untold | I |
And the old Curse that left thee cold | I |
- | |
And drove thee ever to the sun | L |
On blistering rocks nor made thee shun | L |
Our cabin's hearth when day was done | L |
- | |
And the spent ashes warmed thee best | I |
We knew thee silent joyless guest | I |
Of our rude ingle E'en thy quest | I |
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Of the rare milk bowl seemed to be | B |
Naught but a brother's poverty | B |
And Spartan taste that kept thee free | B |
- | |
From lust and rapine Thou whose fame | M |
Searchest the grass with tongue of flame | M |
Making all creatures seem thy game | M |
- | |
When the whole woods before thee run | L |
Asked but when all was said and done | L |
To lie untrodden in the sun | L |
Bret Harte
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Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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