Studies By The Sea Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABBCBCDD EAEAAFAFGGHIHI JKJKLLMNMNNONO EEPQPQRSQSTT UEVEEWEXEEYBYB BZBZSSKA2KB2C2D2B2D2 TTEE2EE2E2AE2ABB F2G2H2G2G2XG2XEEEXEX XG2XG2EERI2RI2I2G2I2 G2 J2J2EEEEEEEEG2G2

AH wherefore do the incurious sayA
That this stupendous ocean wideB
No change presents from day to dayA
Save only the alternate tideB
Or save when gales of summer glideB
Across the lightly crisped waveC
Or when against the cliff's rough sideB
As equinoctial tempests raveC
It wildly bursts o'erwhelms the deluged strandD
Tears down its bounds and desolates the landD
-
He who with more enquiring eyesE
Doth this extensive scene surveyA
Beholds innumerous changes riseE
As various winds its surface swayA
Now o'er its heaving bosom playA
Small sparkling waves of silver gleamF
And as they lightly glide awayA
Illume with fluctuating beamF
The deepening surge green as the dewy cornG
That undulates in April's breezy mornG
The far off waters then assumeH
A glowing amethystine shadeI
That changing like the peacock's plumeH
Seems in celestial blue to fadeI
-
Or paler colder hues of leadJ
As lurid vapours float on highK
Along the ruffling billows spreadJ
While darkly lours the threatening skyK
And the small scatter'd barks with outspread shroudsL
Catch the long gleams that fall between the cloudsL
Then day's bright star with blunted raysM
Seems struggling thro' the sea fog paleN
And doubtful in the heavy hazeM
Is dimly seen the nearing sailN
'Till from the land a fresher galeN
Disperses the white mist and clearO
As melts away the gauzy veilN
The sun reflecting waves appearO
-
So brighter genuine virtue seems to riseE
From envy's dark invidious calumniesE
What glories on the sun attendP
When the full tides of evening flowQ
Where in still changing beauty blendP
With amber light the opal's glowQ
While in the east the diamond bowR
Rises in virgin lustre brightS
And from the horizon seems to throwQ
A partial line of trembling lightS
To the hush'd shore and all the tranquil deepT
Beneath the modest moon is sooth'd to sleepT
-
Forgotten then the thundering breakU
Of waves that in the tempest riseE
The falling cliff the shatter'd wreckV
The howling blast the sufferer's criesE
For soft the breeze of evening sighsE
And murmuring seems in Fancy's earW
To whisper fairy lullabiesE
That tributary waters bearX
From precipices dark with piny woodsE
And inland rocks and heathy solitudesE
The vast encircling seas withinY
What endless swarms of creatures hideB
Of burnish'd scale and spiny finY
These providential instincts guideB
-
And bid them know the annual tideB
When from unfathom'd waves that swellZ
Beyond Fuego's stormy sideB
They come to cheer the tribes that dwellZ
In Boreal climes and thro' his half year's nightS
Give to the Lapland savage food and lightS
From cliffs that pierce the northern skyK
Where eagles rear their sanguine broodA2
With long awaiting patient eyeK
Baffled by many a sailing cloudB2
The Highland native marks the floodC2
Till bright the quickening billows rollD2
And hosts of sea birds clamouring loudB2
Track with wild wing the welcome shoalD2
-
Swift o'er the animated current sweepT
And bear their silver captives from the deepT
Sons of the North your streamy valesE
With no rich sheaves rejoice and singE2
Her flowery robe no fruit concealsE
Tho' sweetly smile your tardy springE2
Yet every mountain clothed with lingE2
Doth from its purple brow surveyA
Your busy sails that ceaseless bringE2
To the broad frith and sheltering bayA
Riches by Heaven's parental power suppliedB
The harvest of the far embracing tideB
-
And where those fractur'd mountains liftF2
O'er the blue wave their towering crestG2
Each salient ledge and hollow cleftH2
To sea fowl give a rugged nestG2
But with instinctive love is drestG2
The Eider's downy cradle whereX
The mother bird her glossy breastG2
Devotes and with maternal careX
And plumeless bosom stems the toiling seasE
That foam round the tempestuous OrcadesE
From heights whence shuddering sense recoilsE
And cloud capped headlands steep and bareX
Sons of the North your venturous toilsE
Collect your poor and scanty fareX
-
Urged by imperious Want you dareX
Scale the loose cliff where Gannets hideG2
Or scarce suspended in the airX
Hang perilous and thus provideG2
The soft voluptuous couch which not securesE
To Luxury's pamper'd minions sleep like yoursE
Revolving still the waves that nowR
Just ripple on the level shoreI2
Have borne perchance the Indian's prowR
Or half congeal'd 'mid ice rocks hoarI2
Raved to the Walrus' hollow roarI2
Or have by currents swift convey'dG2
To the cold coast of LabradorI2
The relics of the tropic shadeG2
-
And to the wondering Esquimaux have shownJ2
Leaves of strange shape and fruits unlike their ownJ2
No more then let the incurious sayE
No change this world of water showsE
But as the tides the moon obeyE
Or tempests rave or calms reposeE
Shew them its bounteous breast bestowsE
On myriads life and bid them seeE
In every wave that circling flowsE
Beauty and use and harmonyE
Works of the Power Supreme who poured the floodG2
Round the green peopled earth and call'd it goodG2

Charlotte Smith



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