Mother And Poet Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCC ADEFEE AGHGHH IJKJKK IKKKKK ILMLLL IKNKNN I KIKK LOKOKK LPKPKK LQKQKK LRK KK LSTSTT IUVUVV IWSWSS IXKXKK ILKLKK ITQTQQ LYZYZZ LKLKLL K

IA
-
Dead One of them shot by the sea in the eastB
And one of them shot in the west by the seaC
Dead both my boys When you sit at the feastB
And are wanting a great song for Italy freeC
Let none look at meC
-
IIA
Yet I was a poetess only last yearD
And good at my art for a woman men saidE
But this woman this who is agonized hereF
The east sea and west sea rhyme on in her headE
For ever insteadE
-
IIIA
What art can a woman be good at Oh vainG
What art is she good at but hurting her breastH
With the milk teeth of babes and a smile at the painG
Ah boys how you hurt you were strong as you pressedH
And I proud by that testH
-
IVI
What art's for a woman To hold on her kneesJ
Both darlings to feel all their arms round her throatK
Cling strangle a little to sew by degreesJ
And 'broider the long clothes and neat little coatK
To dream and to doatK
-
VI
To teach them It stings there I made them indeedK
Speak plain the word country I taught them no doubtK
That a country's a thing men should die for at needK
I prated of liberty rights and aboutK
The tyrant cast outK
-
VII
And when their eyes flashed O my beautiful eyesL
I exulted nay let them go forth at the wheelsM
Of the guns and denied not But then the surpriseL
When one sits quite alone Then one weeps then one kneelsL
God how the house feelsL
-
VIII
At first happy news came in gay letters moiledK
With my kisses of camp life and glory and howN
They both loved me and soon coming home to be spoiledK
In return would fan off every fly from my browN
With their green laurel boughN
-
VIIII
Then was triumph at Turin Ancona was free '-
And some one came out of the cheers in the streetK
With a face pale as stone to say something to meI
My Guido was dead I fell down at his feetK
While they cheered in the streetK
-
IXL
I bore it friends soothed me my grief looked sublimeO
As the ransom of Italy One boy remainedK
To be leant on and walked with recalling the timeO
When the first grew immortal while both of us strainedK
To the height he had gainedK
-
XL
And letters still came shorter sadder more strongP
Writ now but in one hand I was not to faintK
One loved me for two would be with me ere longP
And Viva l' Italia he died for our saintK
Who forbids our complaintK
-
XIL
My Nanni would add he was safe and awareQ
Of a presence that turned off the balls was imprestK
It was Guido himself who knew what I could bearQ
And how 'twas impossible quite dispossessedK
To live on for the restK
-
XIIL
On which without pause up the telegraph lineR
Swept smoothly the next news from Gaeta ShotK
Tell his mother Ah ah his ' their ' mother not mine '-
No voice says My mother again to me WhatK
You think Guido forgotK
-
XIIIL
Are souls straight so happy that dizzy with HeavenS
They drop earth's affections conceive not of woeT
I think not Themselves were too lately forgivenS
Through THAT Love and Sorrow which reconciled soT
The Above and BelowT
-
XIVI
O Christ of the five wounds who look'dst through the darkU
To the face of Thy mother consider I prayV
How we common mothers stand desolate markU
Whose sons not being Christs die with eyes turned awayV
And no last word to sayV
-
XVI
Both boys dead but that's out of nature We allW
Have been patriots yet each house must always keep oneS
'Twere imbecile hewing out roads to a wallW
And when Italy 's made for what end is it doneS
If we have not a sonS
-
XVII
Ah ah ah when Gaeta's taken what thenX
When the fair wicked queen sits no more at her sportK
Of the fire balls of death crashing souls out of menX
When the guns of Cavalli with final retortK
Have cut the game shortK
-
XVIII
When Venice and Rome keep their new jubileeL
When your flag takes all heaven for its white green and redK
When you have your country from mountain to seaL
When King Victor has Italy's crown on his headK
And I have my DeadK
-
XVIIII
What then Do not mock me Ah ring your bells lowT
And burn your lights faintly My country is thereQ
Above the star pricked by the last peak of snowT
My Italy 's THERE with my brave civic PairQ
To disfranchise despairQ
-
XIXL
Forgive me Some women bear children in strengthY
And bite back the cry of their pain in self scornZ
But the birth pangs of nations will wring us at lengthY
Into wail such as this and we sit on forlornZ
When the man child is bornZ
-
XXL
Dead One of them shot by the sea in the eastK
And one of them shot in the west by the seaL
Both both my boys If in keeping the feastK
You want a great song for your Italy freeL
Let none look at meL
-
-
This was Laura Savio of Turin a poetess and patriot whose sonswere killed at Ancona and GaetaK

Elizabeth Barrett Browning



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