Edith: A Tale Of The Woods Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AB CDEDFAFA AAAAAAGAGAHIJKJKALAL AAMNMNFFOOPPQRSRAATT UVUVAWWAAXYXYZZA2A2A AAAB2B2AC2AC2FFD2D2Q QAB2AAAE2E2FFF2F2HGH GPPG2G2 H2VGGI2J2K2K2L2L2AAP PWWM2AAN2N2QSO2JI2I2 P2P2AAAAAAGB2Q2Q2I2I 2TTAAR2R2QQI2I2I2I2S 2T2AAU2U2T2T2V2V2TTE 2E2XX GAE2S

Du Heilige rufe dein Kind zur ch habe genossen das irdische Gl ch habe gelebt und geliebetA
WallensteinB
-
The woods oh solemn are the boundless woodsC
Of the great Western World when day declinesD
And louder sounds the roll of distant floodsE
More deep the rustling of the ancient pinesD
When dimness gathers on the stilly airF
And mystery seems o'er every leaf to broodA
Awful it is for human heart to bearF
The might and burden of the solitudeA
-
Yet in that hour midst those green wastes there sateA
One young and fair and oh how desolateA
But undismay'd while sank the crimson lightA
And the high cedars darken'd with the nightA
Alone she sate tho' many lay aroundA
They pale and silent on the bloody groundA
Were sever'd from her need and from her woG
Far as Death severs Life O'er that wild spotA
Combat had rag'd and brought the valiant lowG
And left them with the history of their lotA
Unto the forest oaks A fearful sceneH
For her whose home of other days had beenI
Midst the fair halls of England but the loveJ
Which fill'd her soul was strong to cast out fearK
And by its might upborne all else aboveJ
She shrank not mark'd not that the dead were nearK
Of him alone she thought whose languid headA
Faintly upon her wedded bosom fellL
Memory of aught but him on earth was fledA
While heavily she felt his life blood wellL
Fast o'er her garments forth and vainly boundA
With her torn robe and hair the streaming woundA
Yet hoped still hoped Oh from such hope how longM
Affection wooes the whispers that deceiveN
Ev'n when the pressure of dismay grows strongM
And we that weep watch tremble ne'er believeN
The blow indeed can fall So bow'd she thereF
Over the dying while unconscious prayerF
Fill'd all her soul Now pour'd the moonlight downO
Veining the pine stems thro' the foliage brownO
And fire flies kindling up the leafy placeP
Cast fitful radiance o'er the warrior's faceP
Whereby she caught its changes to her eyeQ
The eye that faded look'd through gathering hazeR
Whence love o'ermastering mortal agonyS
Lifted a long deep melancholy gazeR
When voice was not that fond sad meaning pass'dA
She knew the fulness of her wo at lastA
One shriek the forests heard and mute she layT
And cold yet clasping still the precious clayT
To her scarce heaving breast O Love and DeathU
Ye have sad meetings on this changeful earthV
Many and sad but airs of heavenly breathU
Shall melt the links which bind you for your birthV
Is far apartA
Now light of richer hueW
Than the moon sheds came flushing mist and dewW
The pines grew red with morning fresh winds play'dA
Bright colour'd birds with splendour cross'd the shadeA
Flitting on flower like wings glad murmurs brokeX
From reed and spray and leaf the living stringsY
Of Earth's Eolian lyre whose music wokeX
Into young life and joy all happy thingsY
And she too woke from that long dreamless tranceZ
The widow'd Edith fearfully her glanceZ
Fell as in doubt on faces dark and strangeA2
And dusky forms A sudden sense of changeA2
Flash'd o'er her spirit ev'n ere memory sweptA
The tide of anguish back with thoughts that sleptA
Yet half instinctively she rose and spreadA
Her arms as 'twere for something lost or fledA
Then faintly sank again The forest boughB2
With all its whispers wav'd not o'er her nowB2
Where was she Midst the people of the wildA
By the red hunter's fire an aged chiefC2
Whose home look'd sad for therein play'd no childA
Had borne her in the stillness of her griefC2
To that lone cabin of the woods and thereF
Won by a form so desolately fairF
Or touch'd with thoughts from some past sorrow sprungD2
O'er her low couch an Indian matron hungD2
While in grave silence yet with earnest eyeQ
The ancient warrior of the waste stood byQ
Bending in watchfulness his proud grey headA
And leaning on his bowB2
And life return'dA
Life but with all its memories of the deadA
To Edith's heart and well the sufferer learn'dA
Her task of meek endurance well she woreE2
The chasten'd grief that humbly can adoreE2
Midst blinding tears But unto that old pairF
Ev'n as a breath of spring's awakening airF
Her presence was or as a sweet wild tuneF2
Bringing back tender thoughts which all too soonF2
Depart with childhood Sadly they had seenH
A daughter to the land of spirits goG
And ever from that time her fading mienH
And voice like winds of summer soft and lowG
Had haunted their dim years but Edith's faceP
Now look'd in holy sweetness from her placeP
And they again seem'd parents Oh the joyG2
The rich deep blessedness tho' earth's alloyG2
-
Fear that still bodes be there of pouring forthH2
The heart's whole power of love its wealth and worthV
Of strong affection in one healthful flowG
On something all its own that kindly glowG
Which to shut inward is consuming painI2
Gives the glad soul its flowering time againJ2
When like the sunshine freed And gentle caresK2
Th' adopted Edith meekly gave for theirsK2
Who lov'd her thus her spirit dwelt the whileL2
With the departed and her patient smileL2
Spoke of farewells to earth yet still she pray'dA
Ev'n o'er her soldier's lowly grave for aidA
One purpose to fulfil to leave one traceP
Brightly recording that her dwelling placeP
Had been among the wilds for well she knewW
The secret whisper of her bosom trueW
Which warn'd her henceM2
And now by many a wordA
Link'd unto moments when the heart was stirr'dA
By the sweet mournfulness of many a hymnN2
Sung when the woods at eve grew hush'd and dimN2
By the persuasion of her fervent eyeQ
All eloquent with child like pietyS
By the still beauty of her life she stroveO2
To win for heaven and heaven born truth the loveJ
Pour'd out on her so freely Nor in vainI2
Was that soft breathing influence to enchainI2
The soul in gentle bonds by slow degreesP2
Light follow'd on as when a summer breezeP2
Parts the deep masses of the forest shadeA
And lets the sunbeam through her voice was madeA
Ev'n such a breeze and she a lowly guideA
By faith and sorrow rais'd and purifiedA
So to the Cross her Indian fosterers ledA
Until their prayers were one When morning spreadA
O'er the blue lake and when the sunset's glowG
Touch'd into golden bronze the cypress boughB2
And when the quiet of the Sabbath timeQ2
Sank on her heart tho' no melodious chimeQ2
Waken'd the wilderness their prayers were oneI2
Now might she pass in hope her work was doneI2
And she was passing from the woods awayT
The broken flower of England might not stayT
Amidst those alien shades her eye was brightA
Ev'n yet with something of a starry lightA
But her form wasted and her fair young cheekR2
Wore oft and patiently a fatal streakR2
A rose whose root was death The parting sighQ
Of autumn thro' the forests had gone byQ
And the rich maple o'er her wanderings loneI2
Its crimson leaves in many a shower had strownI2
Flushing the air and winter's blast had beenI2
Amidst the pines and now a softer greenI2
Fring'd their dark boughs for spring again had comeS2
The sunny spring but Edith to her homeT2
Was journeying fast Alas we think it sadA
To part with life when all the earth looks gladA
In her young lovely things when voices breakU2
Into sweet sounds and leaves and blossoms wakeU2
Is it not brighter then in that far climeT2
Where graves are not nor blights of changeful timeT2
If here such glory dwell with passing bloomsV2
Such golden sunshine rest around the tombsV2
So thought the dying one 'Twas early dayT
And sounds and odours with the breezes' playT
Whispering of spring time thro' the cabin doorE2
Unto her couch life's farewell sweetness boreE2
Then with a look where all her hope awokeX
'My father ' to the grey hair'd chief she spokeX
'Know'st thou that I depart ' 'I know I know '-
He answer'd mournfully 'that thou must goG
To thy belov'd my daughter ' 'Sorrow notA
For me kind mother ' with meek smiles once moreE2
She murmur'd in low tones 'one happyS

Felicia Dorothea Hemans



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