The Forest Boy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAABAAAAABABBAACAAD AEAAEAFAAFGAGHAHAHHA AIAAJKLKKLHMHHN DOCCPKAKKAAQAAQARAAS ATAAUCACCAVAVV KAKKAAFAAFOWOOWEHEXH A AAYEAXEAHCHHC KKKKKMZNMY

THE trees have now hid at the edge of the hurstA
The spot where the ruins decayB
Of the cottage where Will of the Woodland was nursedA
And lived so beloved till the moment accursedA
When he went from the woodland awayB
Among all the lads of the plough or the foldA
Best esteem'd by the sober and goodA
Was Will of the Woodlands and often the oldA
Would tell of his frolics for active and boldA
Was William the boy of the woodA
Yet gentle was he as the breath of the MayB
And when sick and declining was laidA
The woodman his father young William awayB
Would go to the forest to labour all dayB
And perform his hard task in his steadA
And when his poor father the forester diedA
And his mother was sad and aloneC
He toil'd from the dawn and at evening he hiedA
In storm or in snow or whate'er might betideA
To supply all her wants from the townD
-
One neighbour they had on the heath to the westA
And no other the cottage was nearE
But she would send Phoebe the child she loved bestA
To stay with the widow thus sad and distress'dA
Her hours of dejection to cheerE
As the buds of wild roses the cheeks of the maidA
Were just tinted with youth's lovely hueF
Her form like the aspen wild graces display'dA
And the eyes over which her luxuriant locks stray'dA
As the skies of the summer were blueF
Still labouring to live yet reflecting the whileG
Young William consider'd his lotA
'Twas hard yet 'twas honest and one tender smileG
From Phoebe at night overpaid ev'ry toilH
And then all his fatigues were forgotA
By the brook where it glides through the copse of ArbealH
When to eat his cold fare he reclinedA
Then soft from her home his sweet Phoebe would stealH
And bring him wood strawberries to finish his mealH
And would sit by his side while he dinedA
And though when employed in the deep forest gladeA
His days have seem'd slowly to moveI
Yet Phoebe going home through the wood walk has stray'dA
To bid him good night and whatever she saidA
Was more sweet than the voice of the doveJ
Fair Hope that the lover so fondly believesK
Then repeated each soul soothing speechL
And touch'd with illusion that often deceivesK
The future with light as the sun through the leavesK
Illumines the boughs of the beechL
But once more the tempests of chill winter blowH
To depress and disfigure the earthM
And now ere the dawn the young woodman must goH
To his work in the forest half buried in snowH
And at night bring home wood for the hearthN
-
The bridge on the heath by the flood was wash'd downD
And fast fell the sleet and the rainO
The stream to a wild rapid river was grownC
And long might the widow sit sighing aloneC
Ere sweet Phoebe could see her againP
At the town was a market and now for suppliesK
Such as needed her humble abodeA
Young William went forth and his mother with sighsK
Watch'd long at the window with tears in her eyesK
Till he turn'd through the fields to the roadA
Then darkness came on and she heard with affrightA
The wind every moment more highQ
She look'd from the door not a star lent its lightA
But the tempest redoubled the gloom of the nightA
And the rain pour'd in sheets from the skyQ
The clock in her cottage now mournfully toldA
The hours that went heavily onR
'Twas midnight her spirits sank hopeless and coldA
And it seem'd as each blast of wind fearfully toldA
That long long would her William be goneS
Then heart sick and cold to her sad bed she creptA
Yet first made up the fire in the roomT
To guide his dark steps but she listen'd and weptA
Or if for a moment forgetful she sleptA
Soon she started and thought he was comeU
'Twas morn and the wind with a hoarse sullen moanC
Now seem'd dying away in the woodA
When the poor wretched mother still drooping aloneC
Beheld on the threshold a figure unknownC
In gorgeous apparel who stoodA
'Your son is a soldier ' abruptly cried heV
'And a place in our corps has obtain'dA
Nay be not cast down you perhaps may soon seeV
Your William a captain he now sends by meV
The purse he already has gain'd '-
-
So William entrapp'd 'twixt persuasion and forceK
Is embark'd for the isles of the WestA
But he seem'd to begin with ill omens his courseK
And felt recollection regret and remorseK
Continually weigh on his breastA
With useless repentance he eagerly eyedA
The high coast as it faded from viewF
And saw the green hills on whose northernmost sideA
Was his own silvan home and he falter'd and criedA
'Adieu ah for ever adieuF
'Who now my poor mother thy life shall sustainO
Since thy son has thus left thee forlornW
Ah canst thou forgive me And not in the painO
Of this cruel desertion of William complainO
And lament that he ever was bornW
'Sweet Phoebe if ever thy lover was dearE
Now forsake not the cottage of woeH
But comfort my mother and quiet her fearE
And help her to dry up the vain fruitless tearX
That too long for my absence will flowH
'Yet what if my Phoebe another should wedA
And lament her lost William no more '-
The thought was too cruel and anguish now spedA
The dart of disease With the brave numerous deadA
He has fall'n on the plague tainted shoreY
In the lone village church yard the chancel wall nearE
High grass now waves over the spotA
Where the mother of William unable to bearX
His loss who to her widow'd heart was so dearE
Has both him and her sorrows forgotA
By the brook where it winds through the wood of ArbealH
Or amid the deep forest to moanC
The poor wandering Phoebe will silently stealH
The pain of her bosom no reason can healH
And she loves to indulge it aloneC
-
Her senses are injured her eyes dim with tearsK
She sits by the river and weavesK
Reed garlands against her dear William appearsK
Then breathlessly listens and fancies she hearsK
His step in the half wither'd leavesK
Ah such are the miseries to which ye give birthM
Ye statesmen ne'er dreading a scarZ
Who from pictured saloon or the bright sculptured hearthN
Disperse desolation and death through the earthM
When ye let loose the demons of warY

Charlotte Smith



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