Grandpa's Christmas Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDDD EFEFDGDG DBDBADAD HIHIH HE GDGDGJGJ KLKLMNMN GEGEOPOP GBGBQNQN RLRLSQSQ GTGUAVA EPEPQFQ

In his great cushioned chair by the fenderA
An old man sits dreaming to nightB
His withered hands licked by the tenderA
Warm rays of the red anthraciteB
Are folded before him all listlessC
His dim eyes are fixed on the blazeD
While over him sweeps the resistlessD
Flood tide of old daysD
-
-
He hears not the mirth in the hallwayE
He hears not the sounds of good cheerF
That through the old homestead ring alwayE
In the glad Christmas time of the yearF
He heeds not the chime of sweet voicesD
As the last gifts are hung on the treeG
In a long vanished day he rejoicesD
In his lost Used to beG
-
-
He has gone back across dead DecembersD
To his childhood's fair land of delightB
And his mother's sweet smile he remembersD
As he hangs up his stocking at nightB
He remembers the dream haunted slumberA
All broken and restless becauseD
Of the visions that came without numberA
Of dear Santa ClausD
-
-
Again in his manhood's beginningH
He sees himself thrown on the worldI
And into the vortex of sinningH
By Pleasure's strong arms he is hurledI
He hears the sweet Christmas bells ringingH
'Repent ye repent ye and pray '-
But he joins with his comrades in singingH
A bacchanal layE
-
-
Again he stands under the hollyG
With a blushing face lifted to hisD
For love has been stronger than follyG
And has turned him from vice unto blissD
And the whole world is lit with new gloryG
As the sweet vows are uttered againJ
While the Christmas bells tell the old storyG
Of peace unto menJ
-
-
Again with his little brood 'round himK
He sits by the fair mother wifeL
He knows that the angels have crowned himK
With the truest best riches of lifeL
And the hearts of the children untroubledM
Are filled with the gay Christmas tideN
And the gifts for sweet Maudie are doubledM
'Tis her birthday besideN
-
-
Again ah dear Jesus have pityG
He finds in the chill waning dayE
That one has come home from the cityG
Frail Maudie whom love led astrayE
She lies with her babe on her bosomO
Half hid by the snow's fleecy spreadP
A bud and a poor trampled blossomO
And both are quite deadP
-
-
So fair and so fragile just twentyG
How mocking the bells sound to nightB
She starved in this great land of plentyG
When she tried to grope back to the lightB
Christ are Thy disciples inhumanQ
Or only for men hast Thou diedN
No mercy is shown to a womanQ
Who once steps asideN
-
-
Again he leans over the shroudedR
Still form of the mother and wifeL
Very lonely the way seems and cloudedR
As he looks down the vista of lifeL
With the sweet Christmas chimes there is blendedS
The knell for a life that is doneQ
And he knows that his joys are all endedS
And his waiting begunQ
-
-
So long have the years been so lonelyG
As he counts them by Christmases goneT
'I am homesick ' he murmurs 'if onlyG
The Angel would lead the way onU
I am cold in this chill winter weatherA
Why Maudie dear where have you beenV
And you too sweet wife and togetherA
O Christ let me in '-
-
-
The children ran in from the hallwayE
'Were you calling us grandpa ' they saidP
Then shrank with that fear that comes alwayE
When young eyes look their first on the deadP
The freedom so longed for is givenQ
The children speak low and draw nearF
'Dear grandpa keeps Christmas in HeavenQ
With grandma this year '-

Ella Wheeler Wilcox



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Grandpa's Christmas poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 31 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets