The Ladder Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFFGG HHIIJKLL MMNNOOPPQQ RR| Unto each mortal who comes to earth | A |
| A ladder is given by God at birth | A |
| And up this ladder the soul must go | B |
| Step by step from the valley below | B |
| Step by step to the centre of space | C |
| On this ladder of lives to the Starting Place | C |
| - | |
| In time departed which yet endures | D |
| I shaped my ladder and you shaped yours | D |
| Whatever they are they are what we made | E |
| A ladder of light or a ladder of shade | E |
| A ladder of love or a hateful thing | F |
| A ladder of strength or a wavering string | F |
| A ladder of gold or a ladder of straw | G |
| Each is the ladder of righteous law | G |
| - | |
| We flung them away at the call of death | H |
| We took them again with the next life breath | H |
| For a keeper stands by the great birth gates | I |
| As each soul passes its ladder waits | I |
| Though mine be narrow and yours be broad | J |
| On my ladder alone can I climb to God | K |
| On your ladder alone can your feet ascend | L |
| For none may borrow and none may lend | L |
| - | |
| If toil and trouble and pain are found | M |
| Twisted and corded to form each round | M |
| If rusted iron or mouldering wood | N |
| Is the fragile frame you must make it good | N |
| You must build it over and fashion it strong | O |
| Though the task be hard as your life is long | O |
| For up this ladder the pathway leads | P |
| To earthly pleasures and spirit needs | P |
| And all that may come in another way | Q |
| Shall be but illusion and will not stay | Q |
| - | |
| In useless effort then waste no time | R |
| Rebuild your ladder and climb and climb | R |
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(1)
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