What We Needed. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABACAC DEDFGHGH DIDIAJAJ DKDKALALWhat does our country need Not armies standing | A |
With sabres gleaming ready for the fight | B |
Not increased navies skillful and commanding | A |
To bound the waters with an iron might | B |
Not haughty men with glutted purses trying | A |
To purchase souls and keep the power of place | C |
Not jeweled dolls with one another vieing | A |
For palms of beauty elegance and grace | C |
- | |
But we want women strong of soul yet lowly | D |
With that rare meekness born of gentleness | E |
Women whose lives are pure and clean and holy | D |
The women whom all little children bless | F |
Brave earnest women helpful to each other | G |
With finest scorn for all things low and mean | H |
Women who hold the names of wife and mother | G |
Far nobler than the title of a Queen | H |
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O these are they who mold the men of story | D |
These mothers ofttimes shorn of grace and youth | I |
Who worn and weary ask no greater glory | D |
Than making some young soul the home of truth | I |
Who sow in hearts all fallow for the sowing | A |
The seeds of virtue and of scorn for sin | J |
And patient watch the beauteous harvest growing | A |
And weed out tares which crafty hands cast in | J |
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Women who do not hold the gift of beauty | D |
As some rare treasure to be bought and sold | K |
But guard it as a precious aid to duty | D |
The outer framing of the inner gold | K |
Women who low above their cradles bending | A |
Let flattery's voice go by and give no heed | L |
While their pure prayers like incense are ascending | A |
These are our country's pride our country's need | L |
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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