The Martyr Of Alabama Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDC EFGF HIJI KLML NOPO QRFR STST UVWV XYZY A2B2PB2 YYPY C2D2OD2 E2YYY YYYY BYZY F2YB2Y SG2A2H2 B2YEY MI2YI2 IYBY PJ2ZJ2

quot Tim Thompson a little negro boy was asked to dance for the amusement of some white toughs He refused saying he was a church member One of the men knocked him down with a club and then danced upon his prostrate form He then shot the boy in the hip The boy is dead his murderer is still at large quot News ItemA
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He lifted up his pleading eyesB
And scanned each cruel faceC
Where cold and brutal cowardiceD
Had left its evil traceC
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It was when tender memoriesE
Round Beth'lem's manger layF
And mothers told their little onesG
Of Jesu's natal dayF
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And of the Magi from the EastH
Who came their gifts to bringI
And bow in rev'rence at the feetJ
Of Salem's new born KingI
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And how the herald angels sangK
The choral song of peaceL
That war should close his wrathful lipsM
And strife and carnage ceaseL
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At such an hour men well may hushN
Their discord and their strifeO
And o'er that manger clasp their handsP
With gifts to brighten lifeO
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Alas that in our favored landQ
That cruelty and crimeR
Should cast their shadows o'er a dayF
The fairest pearl of timeR
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A dark browed boy had drawn anearS
A band of savage menT
Just as a hapless lamb might strayS
Into a tiger's denT
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Cruel and dull they saw in himU
For sport an evil chanceV
And then demanded of the childW
To give to them a danceV
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quot Come dance for us quot the rough men saidX
quot I can't quot the child repliedY
quot I cannot for the dear Lord's sakeZ
Who for my sins once died quotY
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Tho' they were strong and he was weakA2
He wouldn't his Lord denyB2
His life lay in their cruel handsP
But he for Christ could dieB2
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Heard they aright Did that brave childY
Their mandates dare resistY
Did he against their stern commandsP
Have courage to insistY
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Then recklessly a man aroseC2
And dealt a fearful blowD2
He crushed the portals of that lifeO
And laid the brave child lowD2
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And trampled on his prostrate formE2
As on a broken toyY
Then danced with careless brutal feetY
Upon the murdered boyY
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Christians behold that martyred childY
His blood cries from the groundY
Before the sleepless eye of GodY
He shows each gaping woundY
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Oh Church of Christ arise ariseB
Lest crimson stain thy handY
When God shall inquisition makeZ
For blood shed in the landY
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Take sackcloth of the darkest hueF2
And shroud the pulpits roundY
Servants of him who cannot lieB2
Sit mourning on the groundY
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Let holy horror blanch each browS
Pale every cheek with fearsG2
And rocks and stones if ye could speakA2
Ye well might melt to tearsH2
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Through every fane send forth a cryB2
Of sorrow and regretY
Nor in an hour of careless easeE
Thy brother's wrongs forgetY
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Veil not thine eyes nor close thy lipsM
Nor speak with bated breathI2
This evil shall not always lastY
The end of it is deathI2
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Avert the doom that crime must bringI
Upon a guilty landY
Strong in the strength that God suppliesB
For truth and justice standY
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For Christless men with reckless handsP
Are sowing round thy pathJ2
The tempests wild that yet shall breakZ
In whirlwinds of God's wrathJ2

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper



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