Vashti Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEFE GHIH JKLK LMNM OPIP OQLQ RSTS AMOM UMVM UWLW LAXA LLYL ZSGS ALJL AA2B2A2 USC2S| She leaned her head upon her hand | A |
| And heard the King's decree | B |
| My lords are feasting in my halls | C |
| Bid Vashti come to me | B |
| - | |
| I've shown the treasures of my house | D |
| My costly jewels rare | E |
| But with the glory of her eyes | F |
| No rubies can compare | E |
| - | |
| Adorn'd and crown'd I'd have her come | G |
| With all her queenly grace | H |
| And 'mid my lords and mighty men | I |
| Unveil her lovely face | H |
| - | |
| Each gem that sparkles in my crown | J |
| Or glitters on my throne | K |
| Grows poor and pale when she appears | L |
| My beautiful my own | K |
| - | |
| All waiting stood the chamberlains | L |
| To hear the Queen's reply | M |
| They saw her cheek grow deathly pale | N |
| But light flash'd to her eye | M |
| - | |
| Go tell the King she proudly said | O |
| That I am Persia's Queen | P |
| And by his crowds of merry men | I |
| I never will be seen | P |
| - | |
| I'll take the crown from off my head | O |
| And tread it 'neath my feet | Q |
| Before their rude and careless gaze | L |
| My shrinking eyes shall meet | Q |
| - | |
| A queen unveil'd before the crowd | R |
| Upon each lip my name | S |
| Why Persia's women all would blush | T |
| And weep for Vashti's shame | S |
| - | |
| Go back she cried and waved her hand | A |
| And grief was in her eye | M |
| Go tell the King she sadly said | O |
| That I would rather die | M |
| - | |
| They brought her message to the King | U |
| Dark flash'd his angry eye | M |
| 'Twas as the lightning ere the storm | V |
| Hath swept in fury by | M |
| - | |
| Then bitterly outspoke the King | U |
| Through purple lips of wrath | W |
| What shall be done to her who dares | L |
| To cross your monarch's path | W |
| - | |
| Then spake his wily counsellors | L |
| O King of this fair land | A |
| From distant Ind to Ethiop | X |
| All bow to thy command | A |
| - | |
| But if before thy servants' eyes | L |
| This thing they plainly see | L |
| That Vashti doth not heed thy will | Y |
| Nor yield herself to thee | L |
| - | |
| The women restive 'neath our rule | Z |
| Would learn to scorn our name | S |
| And from her deed to us would come | G |
| Reproach and burning shame | S |
| - | |
| Then gracious King sign with thy hand | A |
| This stern but just decree | L |
| That Vashti lay aside her crown | J |
| Thy Queen no more to be | L |
| - | |
| She heard again the King's command | A |
| And left her high estate | A2 |
| Strong in her earnest womanhood | B2 |
| She calmly met her fate | A2 |
| - | |
| And left the palace of the King | U |
| Proud of her spotless name | S |
| A woman who could bend to grief | C2 |
| But would not bow to shame | S |
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
(1)
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