Dark-browed Martha Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDEBE FGFGFHBH FIFIJBB FKB BLM FNBNOBP QHBHFBFB BRSRDNBN TBFBFHBH UEVEBWJW| When the frost king clothed the forests | A |
| In a flood of gorgeous dyes | B |
| Death called little dark browed Martha | C |
| To her mansion in the skies | B |
| 'Twas a calm October Sabbath | D |
| When the bell with solemn sound | E |
| Knelled her to her quiet slumbers | B |
| Low down in the darksome ground | E |
| - | |
| Far away where sun and summer | F |
| Reign in glory all the year | G |
| Was the land she left behind her | F |
| To her simple heart so dear | G |
| There a mother and a brother | F |
| Meeting oft at close of day | H |
| Spoke in tender tearful whispers | B |
| Of the loved one far away | H |
| - | |
| 'I am thinking ' said the mother | F |
| 'How much Martha'll get to know | I |
| And how smart and bright 'twill make her | F |
| Travellin' round the country so | I |
| 'Spect she'll be a mighty lady | J |
| Shinin' jewels in her ears | B |
| But I hope she won't forget us | B |
| Dat is what dis poor heart fears ' | - |
| - | |
| ''Deed she won't ' then spoke the brother | F |
| 'Martha'll love us just as well | K |
| As before she parted from us | B |
| Trust me mammy I can tell ' | - |
| Then he passed a hand in silence | B |
| O'er his damp and swarthy brow | L |
| Brushed a tear from off the eyelid | M |
| 'O that she were with us now ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Pshaw don't cry Lem ' said the mother | F |
| 'There's no need of that at all | N |
| Massa said he'd bring her to us | B |
| When the nuts began to fall | N |
| The pecans will soon be rattling | O |
| From the tall plantation trees | B |
| She'll be here to help us pick them | P |
| Brisk and merry as you please ' | - |
| - | |
| Thus they talked while she they waited | Q |
| From the earth had passed away | H |
| Walked no more in pleasant places | B |
| Saw no more the light of day | H |
| Knew no more of toilsome labor | F |
| Spiteful threats or angry blows | B |
| For the Heavenly One had called her | F |
| Early from a life of woes | B |
| - | |
| Folded we the tiny fingers | B |
| On the cold unmoving breast | R |
| Robed her in a decent garment | S |
| For her long and dreamless rest | R |
| And when o'er the tranquil Sabbath | D |
| Evening's rays began to fall | N |
| Followed her with heavy footsteps | B |
| To the home that waits us all | N |
| - | |
| As we paused beside the churchyard | T |
| Where the tall green maples rise | B |
| Strangers came and viewed the sleeper | F |
| With sad wonder in their eyes | B |
| While my thoughts flew to that mother | F |
| And that brother far away | H |
| How they'd weep and wail if conscious | B |
| This was Martha's burial day | H |
| - | |
| When the coffin had been lowered | U |
| Carefully into the ground | E |
| And the heavy sods fell on it | V |
| With a cold and hollow sound | E |
| Thought I as we hastened homewards | B |
| By the day's expiring light | W |
| Martha never slept so sweetly | J |
| As she'll sleep this Sabbath night | W |
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
(1)
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