A Servian Legend Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB BBCC DDEE FFG HIHI J BB K LL MNO PQPQ RSRS ITI UVUV WWXX QQBB YYZA2 B2B2BBC2| Long long ago ere yet our race began | A |
| When earth was empty waiting still for man | A |
| Before the breath of life to him was given | B |
| The angels fell into a strife in heaven | B |
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| At length one furious demon grasped the sun | B |
| And sped away as fast as he could run | B |
| And with a ringing laugh of fiendish mirth | C |
| He leaped the battlements and fell to earth | C |
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| Dark was it then in heaven but light below | D |
| For there the demon wandered to and fro | D |
| Tilting aloft upon a slender pole | E |
| The orb of day the pilfering old soul | E |
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| The angels wept and wailed but through the dark | F |
| The Great Creator's voice cried sternly sternly 'Hark | F |
| Who will restore to me the orb of Light | G |
| Him will I honor in all heaven's sight ' | - |
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| Then over the battlements there dropped another | H |
| A shrewder angel well there could not be | I |
| Quoth he 'Behold my love for thee my brother | H |
| For I have left all heaven to stay with thee | I |
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| 'Thy loneliness and wanderings I will share | J |
| Thy heavy burden I will help thee bear ' | - |
| 'Well said ' the demon answered 'and well done | B |
| But I'll not tax you with this heavy sun | B |
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| 'Your company will cheer me it is true | K |
| And I could never think of burdening you ' | - |
| Idly they wandered onward side by side | L |
| Till by and by they neared a silvery tide | L |
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| 'Let's bathe ' the angel suddenly suggested | M |
| 'Agreed ' the demon answered 'I'll go last | N |
| Because I needs must leave quite unmolested | O |
| This tiresome sun which I will now make fast ' | - |
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| He set the pole well in the sandy turf | P |
| And called a jackdaw near to watch the place | Q |
| Meanwhile the angel paddled in the surf | P |
| And playfully dared his brother to a race | Q |
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| They swam around together for awhile | R |
| The demon always keeping near his prize | S |
| Till presently the angel with a smile | R |
| Proposed a healthful diving exercise | S |
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| The demon hesitated 'But ' thought he | I |
| 'The jackdaw will inform me with a cry | T |
| If this good brother tries deceiving me | I |
| I will not be outdone by him not I ' | - |
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| Down down they went The angel in a trice | U |
| Rose up again and swift to shore he sped | V |
| The jackdaw shrieked but lo a mile of ice | U |
| The demon found had frozen o'er his head | V |
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| He swore an oath and gathered all his force | W |
| And broke the ice to see the sun of course | W |
| Held firmly in the radiant angel's hand | X |
| Who sailed away toward the heavenly land | X |
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| He gave pursuit Wrath lent speed to his chase | Q |
| All heaven leaned down to watch the exciting race | Q |
| On on they came and still the Evil One | B |
| Gained on the angel burdened with the sun | B |
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| With bated breath and faces white as ghosts | Y |
| Over the walls leaned heaven's affrighted hosts | Y |
| Up up still up the angel almost spent | Z |
| Threw one foot forward o'er the battlement | A2 |
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| The demon seized the other with a shout | B2 |
| So fierce his clutch he pulled the bottom out | B2 |
| As the good angel fainting laid the sun | B |
| Down by the throne of God who cried 'Well done | B |
| Thy great misfortune shall be made divine | C2 |
| Man will I create with a foot like thine ' | - |
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(1)
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