The Three Kings Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II JJ KK LL MM N OO LL FF P QQ MM RR SS TT E UU VV DD WW PP XX YY ZZ A2A2 HH LB2 C2C2 D2D2 OO EE II E2E2 D2D2 KK F2F2

WHEN the star in the East was lit to shineA
The three kings journeyed to PalestineA
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They came from the uttermost parts of earthB
With long trains laden with gifts of worthB
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The first king rode on a camel's backC
He came from the land where the kings are blackC
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Bringing treasures desired of kingsD
Rubies and ivory and precious thingsD
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An elephant carried the second kingE
He came from the land of the sun risingE
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And gems and gold and spices he bareF
With broidered raiment for kings to wearF
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The third king came without steed or trainG
From the misty land where the white kings reignG
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He bore no gifts save the myrrh in his handH
For he came on foot from a far off landH
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Now when they had travelled a many daysI
Through tangled forests and desert waysI
-
By angry seas and by paths thorn setJ
On Christmas Vigil the three kings metJ
-
And over their meeting a shrouded skyK
Made dark the star they had travelled byK
-
Then the first king spake and he frowned and saidL
'By some ill spell have our feet been ledL
-
'Now I see in the darkness the fools we areM
To follow the light of a lying starM
-
'Let us fool no more but like kings and menN
Each get him home to his land again '-
-
Then the second king with the weary faceO
Gold tinct as the sun of his reigning placeO
-
Lifted sad eyes to the clouds and saidL
'It was but a dream and the dream is spedL
-
'We dreamed of a star that rose new and fairF
But it sets in the night of the old despairF
-
'Yet night is faithful though stars betrayP
It will lead to our kingdoms far away '-
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Then spake the king who had fared aloneQ
From the far off kingdom the white hung throneQ
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'O brothers brothers so very farM
Ye have followed the light of the radiant starM
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'And because for a while ye see it notR
Shall its faithful shining be all forgotR
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'On the spirit's pathway the light still liesS
Though the star be hid from our longing eyesS
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'To morrow our star will be bright once moreT
The little pin hole in heaven's floorT
-
'The Angels pricked it to let it bringE
Our feet to the throne of the new born King '-
-
And the first king heard and the second heardU
And their hearts grew humble before the thirdU
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And they laid them down beside bale and beastV
and their sleeping eyes saw light in the EastV
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For the Angels fanned them with starry wingsD
And the waft of visions of unseen thingsD
-
And the next gold day waned trembling and whiteW
And the star was born of the waxing nightW
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And the three kings came where the Great King layP
A little baby among the hayP
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The ox and the ass were standing nearX
And Mary Mother beside her DearX
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Then low in the litter the kings bowed downY
They gave Him gold for a kingly crownY
-
And frankincense for a great God's breathZ
and Myrrh to sweeten the day of deathZ
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The Maiden Mother she stood and smiledA2
And she took from the manger her little childA2
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On the dark king's head she laid His handH
And anger died at that dear commandH
-
She laid His hand on the gold king's headL
And despair itself was comfortedB2
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But when the pale king knelt in the stallC2
She heard on the straw his tears down fallC2
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And she stooped where he knelt beside her feetD2
And laid on his bosom her baby sweetD2
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And the king in the holy stable placeO
Felt the little lips through the tears on his faceO
-
-
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Christ lay Thy hand on the angry kingE
Who reigns in my breast to my undoingE
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And lay thy hands on the king who laysI
The spell of sadness on all my daysI
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And give the white king my soul Thy soulE2
Of these other kings the high controlE2
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That soul and spirit and sense may meetD2
In adoration before Thy feetD2
-
Now Glory to God the Father Most HighK
And the Star the Spirit He leads us byK
-
And to God's dear Son the Babe who was bornF2
And laid in the manger on Christmas mornF2

Edith Nesbit



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