Exhortation: Summer 1919 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDDCDDCED CBCB CDDCDDCEDThrough the pregnant universe rumbles life's terrific thunder | A |
And Earth's bowels quake with terror strange and terrible storms break | B |
Lightning torches flame the heavens kindling souls of men thereunder | A |
Africa long ages sleeping O my motherland awake | B |
- | |
In the East the clouds glow crimson with the new dawn that is breaking | C |
And its golden glory fills the western skies | D |
O my brothers and my sisters wake arise | D |
For the new birth rends the old earth and the very dead are waking | C |
Ghosts are turned flesh throwing off the grave's disguise | D |
And the foolish even children are made wise | D |
For the big earth groans in travail for the strong new world in making | C |
O my brothers dreaming for dim centuries | E |
Wake from sleeping to the East turn turn your eyes | D |
- | |
Oh the night is sweet for sleeping but the shining day's for working | C |
Sons of the seductive night for your children's children's sake | B |
From the deep primeval forests where the crouching leopard's lurking | C |
Lift your heavy lidded eyes Ethiopia awake | B |
- | |
In the East the clouds glow crimson with the new dawn that is breaking | C |
And its golden glory fills the western skies | D |
O my brothers and my sisters wake arise | D |
For the new birth rends the old earth and the very dead are waking | C |
Ghosts have turned flesh throwing off the grave's disguise | D |
And the foolish even children are made wise | D |
For the big earth groans in travail for the strong new world in making | C |
O my brothers dreaming for long centuries | E |
Wake from sleeping to the East turn turn your eyes | D |
Claude Mckay
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