A Destiny Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCDDA EFEFGGA HIHIJJF KLKLIIF MNMNOOF PQPQRRF POSOFFF TUTUVVM WXWXYYM MZMZ MM PA2PA2VVM TB2TB2C2C2M D2JD2JE2E2F UVUVF2F2F XG2XG2PVF LH2LH2I2I2F J2FJ2FK2K2F H2LH2L L2M J2MJ2MOOM JM2JM2TTT KTKTH2H2T TTTTTTT N2O2P2O2LLF TTTTFFF Q2TQ2TJJF R2S2R2S2L2L2F E2T2E2T2FFF BU2BV2T

IA
-
THERE was a lady who had early wedB
One whom she saw and lov'd in her bright youthC
When life was yet untried and when he saidB
He too lov'd her he spoke no more than truthC
He lov'd as well as baser natures canD
But a mean heart and soul were in that manD
IIA
-
And they dwelt happily if happy beE
Not with harsh words to breed unnatural strifeF
The cold world's Argus watching failed to seeE
The flaw that dimm'd the lustre of their lifeF
Save that he seem'd tyrannical tho' gayG
Restless and selfish in his love of swayG
IIIA
-
The calm of conscious power was not in himH
But rather struggling into broader lightI
The secret sense they feel however dimH
Whose chance position gives a sort of rightI
As from the height of a prescriptive throneJ
To govern natures nobler than their ownJ
IVF
-
And as her youth waned slowly on there fellK
A nameless shadow on that lady's heartL
And those she lov'd the best and she lov'd wellK
Had of her confidence nor share nor partL
Her thoughts lay folded from Life's lessening lightI
Like the sweet flowers which close themselves at nightI
VF
-
And men began to whisper evil thingsM
Against the honour of her wedded mateN
That which had pass'd for youth's wild wanderingsM
Showed more suspicious in his settled stateN
Until at length he stood at some chance gameO
Discover'd branded with a Cheater's nameO
VIF
-
Out and away he slunk with felon airP
Then calling to him one who was his friendQ
Bid him to that unblemish'd wife repairP
And tell her what had chanced and what the endQ
How they must leave the country of their birthR
And hide in some more distant spot of earthR
VIIF
-
It was a coward's thought he could not bearP
Himself to be narrator of his shameO
He that had trampled oft now felt in fearS
Of her who still must keep his blighted nameO
And shrank in fancy from that steadfast eyeF
The window to a soul so pure and highF
VIIIF
-
She heard it O'er her brow there pass'd a flushT
Of sunset red and then so white a hueU
So deadly pale it seem'd as if no blushT
Through that transparent cheek should shine anewU
As if the blood had frozen in that hourV
And her check'd pulse for ever lost its powerV
IXM
-
And twice and once did she essay to speakW
And with a gesture almost of commandX
Though in its motion it was deadly weakW
She faintly lifted up her graceful handX
But then her soul came back to her strength wokeY
And with a low but even voice she spokeY
XM
-
'Go say to him who dream'd of other chanceM
That HERE none sit in judgment on his sinZ
That to his door the world's scorn may advanceM
And cloud his path but doth not enter inZ
Here dwell his Own to share to soothe disgrace '-
Which having said she cover'd up her faceM
XIM
-
And as he left her sank in bitter prayerP
If prayer that may be term'd which comes to allA2
That sudden gushing of our vain despairP
When none but God can hear or heed our callA2
And the wreck'd soul feels in its helpless hourV
Where only dwells full mercy with full powerV
XIIM
-
And he came home a crush'd and humbled wretchT
Whom when she saw she but this comfort foundB2
In her kind arms that shrinking form to catchT
Which tenderly about his neck she woundB2
As in the first proud days of love and trustC2
E'er yet his reckless head was bow'd in dustC2
XIIIM
-
And they departed to a distant shoreD2
But wheresoe'er they dwelt however loneJ
Shame like a marble statue at his doorD2
Flung her 'thwart shadow o'er his threshold stoneJ
Still darken'd all their daylight hours and keptE2
Cold watch above them even while they sleptE2
XIVF
-
And there was no more love between those twoU
It died not in the shock of that dark hourV
Such shocks destroy not love whose purple hueU
Fades rather like some autumn wither'd flowerV
Which day by day along the ruin'd walkF2
We see then miss it from the sapless stalkF2
XVF
-
And while it fadeth oft with gentle handX
Doth memory turn to life's dark journal bookG2
And passing foul misdeeds intently standX
On its first page of glorious hope to lookG2
Weeping she reads and seeing all so fairP
Pleads hard for what we are by what we wereV
XVIF
-
So through that hour love lived and though in partL
'Twas one of most unutterable painH2
It had its sweetness too and told her heartL
All she could do and all she could sustainH2
The holy love of woman buoy'd her upI2
And God gave strength to drink the bitter cupI2
XVIIF
-
But when as days crept on she saw him stillJ2
Less grateful than abash'd beneath her eyeF
And studying not how best to banish illJ2
But what he might conceal and what denyF
Her soul revolted and conceived a scornK2
Sinful and harsh although of virtue bornK2
XVIIIF
-
And oft she pray'd with earnestness and painH2
That heaven would bid that proud contempt departL
And wept to find the prayer and effort vainH2
Though it was breathed in agony of heartL
Vain as the murmur of 'Thy will be done '-
Breathed by the death bed of an only sonL2
XIXM
-
For when her children err'd as children willJ2
A sickening terror smote her heart with fearsM
And scarce she measured the degree of illJ2
Or made indulgence for their tender yearsM
They were HIS children and the chance of shameO
Kept watch for those who bore that father's nameO
XXM
-
And thinking thus reproof would take a toneJ
So strangely passionate severe and wildM2
So deeply alter'd so unlike her ownJ
It stung and terrified her startled childM2
Whose innate sense of justice seem'd to showT
Him over chidden being chidden soT
XXIT
-
And then a gush of mother's love would swellK
Her grieving heart and she would fondly pressT
The young offending head she loved so wellK
Close to her own with many a soft caressT
Whose reconciling sweetness all in vainH2
Stopp'd her boy's tears while her's ran down like rainH2
XXIIT
-
The world which still pronounces from the showT
Of outward things whisper'd and talk'd of thisT
Erring and obstinate its crowds ne'er knowT
How much in judging they may judge amissT
Or how much agony and broken peaceT
May lie beneath the seeming of capriceT
XXIIIT
-
But he her husband for he was not dullN2
Saw through these workings of a troubled mindO2
And that her cup of sorrow might be fullP2
He taunted her with words and looks unkindO2
Which with a patient bowing of the heartL
She took like one resolved to do her partL
XXIVF
-
And years stole on for years go by like daysT
Leaving but scatter'd hours to mark their courseT
And brightness faded from that lady's gazeT
And her cheek hollow'd and her step lost forceT
Till it was plain to even a careless eyeF
That she was doom'd before her time to dieF
XXVF
-
She died as she had lived her secret soulQ2
Shut from the sweet communion of true friendsT
Her words though not her thoughts she could controlQ2
And still with calm respect his name she blendsT
They all stood round her whom she call'd her OwnJ
And saw her die yet was that death bed loneJ
XXVIF
-
But in its darkest hour her thoughts were stirr'dR2
And something falter'd from her dying tongueS2
Mournful and tender half pronounced half heardR2
For which he was too base his boys too youngS2
So whatso'er the warning faintly givenL2
It lay between her parting soul and HeavenL2
XXVIIF
-
He wept for her ah who would not have weptE2
To see that worn face in its pallid shroudT2
Proving how much she suffer'd ere she sleptE2
At peace for ever Violent and loudT2
Was the outbreaking of his sudden griefF
And like all feelings in that heart 'twas briefF
XXVIIIF
-
And something strange pass'd o'er his soul insteadB
When thinking upon her whom he had lostU2
Almost like a relief that she was deadB
She whose high nature scorn'd his fault the mostV2
And shT

Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton



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