The Careless Word Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EFGGHHDD IJKKLLDD MMNNOPDD QRSSTUDD VJWWB DD NNXYWWDD

A WORD is ringing thro' my brainA
It was not meant to give me painA
It had no tone to bid it stayB
When other things had past awayB
It had no meaning more than allC
Which in an idle hour fallC
It was when first the sound I heardD
A lightly uttered careless wordD
-
That word oh it doth haunt me nowE
In scenes of joy in scenes of woeF
By night by day in sun or shadeG
With the half smile that gently playedG
Reproachfully and gave the soundH
Eternal power thro' life to woundH
There is no voice I ever heardD
So deeply fix'd as that one wordD
-
When in the laughing crowd some toneI
Like those whose joyous sound is goneJ
Strikes on my ear I shrink for thenK
The careless word comes back againK
When all alone I sit and gazeL
Upon the cheerful home fire blazeL
Lo freshly as when first 'twas heardD
Returns that lightly uttered wordD
-
When dreams bring back the days of oldM
With all that wishes could not holdM
And from my feverish couch I startN
To press a shadow to my heartN
Amid its beating echoes clearO
That little word I seem to hearP
In vain I say while it is heardD
Why weep 'twas but a foolish wordD
-
It comes and with it come the tearsQ
The hopes the joys of former yearsR
Forgotten smiles forgotten looksS
Thick as dead leaves on autumn brooksS
And all as joyless though they wereT
The brightest things life's spring could shareU
Oh would to God I ne'er had heardD
That lightly uttered careless wordD
-
It was the first the only oneV
Of those which lips for ever goneJ
Breathed in their love which had for meW
Rebuke of harshness at my gleeW
And if those lips were here to sayB
'Beloved let it pass away '-
Ah then perchance but I have heardD
The last dear tone the careless wordD
-
Oh ye who meeting sigh to partN
Whose words are treasures to some heartN
Deal gently ere the dark days comeX
When earth hath but for one a homeY
Lest musing o'er the past like meW
They feel their hearts wrung bitterlyW
And heeding not what else they heardD
Dwell weeping on a careless wordD

Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton



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