Crotalus Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABA CCC DDD EEE FFF GGG HHH III JJJ KKK III LLL III BBB MMM LLL| No life in earth or air or sky | A |
| The sunbeams broken silently | B |
| On the bared rocks around me lie | A |
| - | |
| 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 |
| - | |
| Or yet retract For me no spell | K |
| Lights those slit orbs where some think dwell | K |
| Machicolated fires of hell | K |
| - | |
| 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 |
| - | |
| 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
(1)
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About Crotalus
Crotalus is a poem by Bret Harte. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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