The Messenger Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACDDEE FGFGH I JH K LMLMI H NO OHHP QR RH JJ STSUH H| She rose up in the early dawn | A |
| And white and silently she moved | B |
| About the house Four men had gone | A |
| To battle for the land they loved | C |
| And she the mother and the wife | D |
| Waited for tidings from the strife | D |
| How still the house seemed and her tread | E |
| Was like the footsteps of the dead | E |
| - | |
| - | |
| The long day passed the dark night came | F |
| She had not seen a human face | G |
| Some voice spoke suddenly her name | F |
| How loud it echoed in that place | G |
| Where day on day no sound was heard | H |
| But her own footsteps 'Bring you word ' | - |
| She cried to whom she could not see | I |
| 'Word from the battle plain to me ' | - |
| - | |
| - | |
| A soldier entered at the door | J |
| And stood within the dim firelight | H |
| 'I bring you tidings of the four ' | - |
| He said 'who left you for the fight ' | - |
| 'God bless you friend ' she cried 'speak on | K |
| For I can bear it One is gone ' | - |
| 'Ay one is gone ' he said 'Which one ' | - |
| 'Dear lady he your eldest son ' | - |
| - | |
| - | |
| A deathly pallor shot across | L |
| Her withered face she did not weep | M |
| She said 'It is a grievous loss | L |
| But God gives His belov d sleep | M |
| What of the living of the three | I |
| And when can they come back to me ' | - |
| The soldier turned away his head | H |
| 'Lady your husband too is dead ' | - |
| - | |
| - | |
| She put her hand upon her brow | N |
| A wild sharp pain was in her eyes | O |
| 'My husband Oh God help me now ' | - |
| The soldier heard her shuddering sighs | O |
| The task was harder than he thought | H |
| 'Your youngest son dear madam fought | H |
| Close at his father's side both fell | P |
| Dead by the bursting of a shell ' | - |
| - | |
| - | |
| She moved her lips and seemed to moan | Q |
| Her face had paled to ashen gray | R |
| 'Then one is left me one alone ' | - |
| She said 'of four who marched away | R |
| Oh overruling All wise God | H |
| How can I pass beneath Thy rod ' | - |
| The soldier walked across the floor | J |
| Paused at the window at the door | J |
| - | |
| - | |
| Wiped the cold dew drops from his cheek | S |
| And sought the mourner's side again | T |
| 'Once more dear lady I must speak | S |
| Your last remaining son was slain | U |
| Just at the closing of the fight | H |
| 'Twas he who sent me here to night ' | - |
| 'God knows ' the man said afterward | H |
| 'The fight itself was not so hard ' | - |
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(1)
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