The Map Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCADEED FGHIJKLMNDO CAACPQQP| Land lies in water it is shadowed green | A |
| Shadows or are they shallows at its edges | B |
| showing the line of long sea weeded ledges | C |
| where weeds hang to the simple blue from green | A |
| Or does the land lean down to lift the sea from under | D |
| drawing it unperturbed around itself | E |
| Along the fine tan sandy shelf | E |
| is the land tugging at the sea from under | D |
| - | |
| The shadow of Newfoundland lies flat and still | F |
| Labrador's yellow where the moony Eskimo | G |
| has oiled it We can stroke these lovely bays | H |
| under a glass as if they were expected to blossom | I |
| or as if to provide a clean cage for invisible fish | J |
| The names of seashore towns run out to sea | K |
| the names of cities cross the neighboring mountains | L |
| the printer here experiencing the same excitement | M |
| as when emotion too far exceeds its cause | N |
| These peninsulas take the water between thumb and finger | D |
| like women feeling for the smoothness of yard goods | O |
| - | |
| Mapped waters are more quiet than the land is | C |
| lending the land their waves' own conformation | A |
| and Norway's hare runs south in agitation | A |
| profiles investigate the sea where land is | C |
| Are they assigned or can the countries pick their colors | P |
| What suits the character or the native waters best | Q |
| Topography displays no favorites North's as near as West | Q |
| More delicate than the historians' are the map makers' colors | P |
Elizabeth Bishop
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Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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