The American Forest Girl Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCEFF GGHHIIJKLLMMNOPPQQ CRSTSTUUVVWXYZYA2QQ TTJTTTTTB2C2TT D2D2TTTTJ THTHTTE2E2F2F2G2G2 H2H2T

Wildly and mournfully the Indian drumA
On the deep hush of moonlight forests brokeB
'Sing us a death song for thine hour is comeA
So the red warriors to their captive spokeB
Still and amidst those dusky forms aloneC
A youth a fair hair'd youth of England stoodD
Like a king's son tho' from his cheek had flownC
The mantling crimson of the island bloodE
And his press'd lips look'd marble Fiercely brightF
And high around him blaz'd the fires of nightF
-
Rocking beneath the cedars to and froG
As the wind pass'd and with a fitful glowG
Lighting the victim's face But who could tellH
Of what within his secret heart befelH
Known but to heaven that hour Perchance a thoughtI
Of his far home then so intensely wroughtI
That its full image pictur'd to his eyeJ
On the dark ground of mortal agonyK
Rose clear as day and he might see the bandL
Of his young sisters wand'ring hand in handL
Where the laburnums droop'd or haply bindingM
The jasmine up the door's low pillars windingM
Or as day clos'd upon their gentle mirthN
Gathering with braided hair around the hearthO
Where sat their mother and that mother's faceP
Its grave sweet smile yet wearing in the placeP
Where so it ever smiled Perchance the prayerQ
Learn'd at her knee came back on his despairQ
-
The blessing from her voice the very toneC
Of her 'Good night' might breathe from boyhood goneR
He started and look'd up thick cypress boughsS
Full of strange sound wav'd o'er him darkly redT
In the broad stormy firelight savage browsS
With tall plumes crested and wild hues o'erspreadT
Girt him like feverish phantoms and pale starsU
Look'd thro' the branches as thro' dungeon barsU
Shedding no hope He knew he felt his doomV
Oh what a tale to shadow with its gloomV
That happy hall in England Idle fearW
Would the winds tell it Who might dream or hearX
The secret of the forests to the stakeY
They bound him and that proud young soldier stroveZ
His father's spirit in his breast to wakeY
Trusting to die in silence He the loveA2
Of many hearts the fondly rear'd the fairQ
Gladdening all eyes to see And fetter'd thereQ
-
He stood beside his death pyre and the brandT
Flamed up to light it in the chieftain's handT
He thought upon his God Hush hark a cryJ
Breaks on the stern and dread solemnityT
A step hath pierc'd the ring Who dares intrudeT
On the dark hunters in their vengeful moodT
A girl a young slight girl a fawn like childT
Of green Savannas and the leafy wildT
Springing unmark'd till then as some lone flowerB2
Happy because the sunshine is its dowerC2
Yet one that knew how early tears are shedT
For hers had mourn'd a playmate brother deadT
-
She had sat gazing on the victim longD2
Until the pity of her soul grew strongD2
And by its passion's deep'ning fervour sway'dT
Ev'n to the stake she rush'd and gently laidT
His bright head on her bosom and aroundT
His form her slender arms to shield it woundT
Like close liannes then rais'd her glittering eyeJ
And clear toned voice that said 'He shall not die '-
-
'He shall not die ' the gloomy forest thrill'dT
To that sweet sound A sudden wonder fellH
On the fierce throng and heart and hand were still'dT
Struck down as by the whisper of a spellH
They gaz'd their dark souls bow'd before the maidT
She of the dancing step in wood and gladeT
And as her cheek flush'd thro' its olive hueE2
As her black tresses to the night wind flewE2
Something o'ermaster'd them from that young mienF2
Something of heaven in silence felt and seenF2
And seeming to their child like faith a tokenG2
That the Great Spirit by her voice had spokenG2
-
They loos'd the bonds that held their captive's breathH2
From his pale lips they took the cup of deathH2
They quench'd the brand beneath the cypress treeT
'Away ' they cried 'young stranger thou art free '-

Felicia Dorothea Hemans



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