With The Tide Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHDIHJKLMNEONP QRMOSTU CVWXYZA2FB2C2D2E2MF2 G2D2H2 I2HJ2CK2L2M2N2O2CP2Q 2M2R2Q2

Somewhere I read in an old book whose nameA
Is gone from me I read that when the daysB
Of a man are counted and his business doneC
There comes up the shore at evening with the tideD
To the place where he sits a boatE
And in the boat from the place where he sits he seesF
Dim in the dusk dim and yet so familiarG
The faces of his friends long dead and knowsH
They come for him brought in upon the tideD
To take him where men go at set of dayI
Then rising with his hands in theirs he goesH
Between them his last steps that are the firstJ
Of the new life and with the ebb they passK
Their shaken sail grown small upon the moonL
Often I thought of this and pictured meM
How many a man who lives with throngs about himN
Yet straining through the twilight for that boatE
Shall scarce make out one figure in the sternO
And that so faint its features shall perplex himN
With doubtful memories and his heart hang backP
-
But others rising as they see the sailQ
Increase upon the sunset hasten downR
Hands out and eyes elated for they seeM
Head over head crowding from bow to sternO
Repeopling their long loneliness with smilesS
The faces of their friends and such go forthT
Content upon the ebb tide with safe heartsU
-
But never to worker summoned when his day was doneC
Did mounting tide bring in such freight of friendsV
As stole to you up the white wintry shingleW
That night while they that watched you thought you sleptX
Softly they came and beached the boat and gatheredY
In the still cove under the icy starsZ
Your last born and the dear loves of your heartA2
And all men that have loved right more than easeF
And honor above honors all who gaveB2
Free handed of their best for other menC2
And thought their giving taking they who knewD2
Man's natural state is effort up and upE2
All these were there so great a companyM
Perchance you marvelled wondering what great shipF2
Had brought that throng unnumbered to the coveG2
Where the boys used to beach their light canoeD2
After old happy picnicsH2
-
But these your friends and children to whose handsI2
Committed in the silent night you roseH
And took your last faint stepsJ2
These led you down O great AmericanC
Down to the Winter night and the white beachK2
And there you saw that the huge hull that waitedL2
Was not as are the boats of the other deadM2
Frail craft for a brief passage no for thisN2
Was first of a long line of towering transportsO2
Storm worn and ocean weary every oneC
The ships you launched the ships you manned the shipsP2
That now returning from their sacred questQ2
With the thrice sacred burden of their deadM2
Lay waiting there to take you forth with themR2
Out with the ebb tide on some farther questQ2

Edith Wharton



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