A Story Of The Sea-shore: Introduction Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGCCHCIJKJLMNOL PQNC RSTHAUVWXYZXA2B2C2D2 E2SF2G2H2 I2J2K2L2WJ2LM2 N2CO2P2Q2R2S2CT2U2V2 MTW2X2EY2Y2Z2CA3CELB 3CLB3CRC3Y2D3JE3OXMC WF3G3CCJ TTH3CTTLI3G2J3C LCG2D3K3TSK2L3UTTG2M TRM3D2 N3O3Y2EL D3TP3T

I sought the long clear twilights of my homeA
Far in the pale blue skies and slaty seasB
What time the sunset dies not utterlyC
But withered to a ghost like stealthy gleamD
Round the horizon creeps the short lived nightE
And changes into sunrise in a swoonF
I found my home in homeliness unchangedG
The love that made it home unchangeableC
Received me as a child and all was wellC
My ancient summer heaven borne on the hillsH
Once more embraced me and once more the valeC
So often sighed for in the far off nightsI
Rose on my bodily vision and beholdJ
In nothing had the fancy mocked the factK
The hasting streams went garrulous as of oldJ
The resting flowers in silence uttered moreL
The blue hills rose and dwelt alone in heavenM
Householding Nature from her treasures broughtN
Things old and new the same yet not the sameO
For all was holier lovelier than beforeL
And best of all once more I paced the fieldsP
With him whose love had made me long for GodQ
So good a father that needs must I soughtN
A better still Father of him and meC
-
Once on a day my cousin Frank and IR
Sat swiftly borne behind the dear white mareS
That oft had carried me in bygone daysT
Along the lonely paths of moorland hillsH
But now we sought the coast where deep waves foamA
'Gainst rocks that lift their dark fronts to the northU
And with us went a girl on whose kind faceV
I had not looked for many a youthful yearW
But the old friendship straightway blossomed newX
The heavens were sunny and the earth was greenY
The large harebells in families stood alongZ
The grassy borders of a tender blueX
Transparent as the sky haunted with wingsA2
Of many butterflies as blue as theyB2
And as we talked and talked without restraintC2
Brought near by memories of days that wereD2
And therefore are for ever by the joyE2
Of motion through a warm and shining airS
By the glad sense of freedom and like thoughtsF2
And by the bond of friendship with the deadG2
She told the tale which here I tell againH2
-
I had returned to childish olden timeI2
And asked her if she knew a castle wornJ2
Whose masonry razed utterly aboveK2
Yet faced the sea cliff up and met the wavesL2
'Twas one of my child marvels for each yearW
We turned our backs upon the ripening cornJ2
And sought some village on the Moray shoreL
And nigh this ruin was that I loved the bestM2
-
For oh the riches of that little portN2
Down almost to the beach where a high wallC
Inclosed them came the gardens of a lordO2
Free to the visitor with foot restrainedP2
His shady walks his ancient trees of stateQ2
His river that would not be shut withinR2
But came abroad went dreaming o'er the sandsS2
And lost itself in finding out the seaC
Inside it bore grave swans white splendours creptT2
Under the fairy leap of a wire bridgeU2
Vanished in leaves and came again where lawnsV2
Lay verdurous and the peacock's plumy heavenM
Bore azure suns with green and golden raysT
It was my childish Eden for the skiesW2
Were loftier in that garden and the cloudsX2
More summer gracious edged with broader whiteE
And when they rained it was a golden rainY2
That sparkled as it fell an odorous rainY2
And then its wonder heart a little roomZ2
Half hollowed in the side of a steep hillC
Which rose with columned windy temple crownedA3
A landmark to far seas The enchanted cellC
Was clouded over in the gentle nightE
Of a luxuriant foliage and its doorL
Half filled with rainbow hues of coloured glassB3
Opened into the bosom of the hillC
Never to sesame of mine that doorL
Gave up its sanctuary but through the glassB3
Gazing with reverent curiosityC
I saw a little chamber round and highR
Which but to see was to escape the heatC3
And bathe in coolness of the eye and brainY2
For all was dusky greenness on one sideD3
A window half blind with ivy manifoldJ
Whose leaves like heads of gazers climbed to the topE3
Gave a joy saddened light for all that cameO
Through the thick veil was green oh kindest hueX
But the heart has a heart this heart had oneM
Still in the midst the ever more of allC
On a low column stood white cold dim clearW
A marble woman Who she was I know notF3
A Psyche or a Silence or an EchoG3
Pale undefined a silvery shadow stillC
In one lone chamber of my memoryC
She is a power upon me as of oldJ
-
But ah to dream there through hot summer daysT
In coolness shrouded and sea murmuringsT
Forgot by all till twilight shades grew darkH3
To find half hidden in the hollowed wallC
A nest of tales old volumes such as dreamsT
Hoard up in bookshops dim in tortuous streetsT
That wondrous marble woman evermoreL
Filling the gloom with calm deliriumI3
Of radiated whiteness as I readG2
The fancied joy too plenteous for its cupJ3
O'erflowed and turned to sadness as it fellC
-
But the gray ruin on the shattered shoreL
Not the green refuge in the bowering hillC
Drew forth our talk that day For as I saidG2
I asked her if she knew it She repliedD3
I know it well A woman used to liveK3
In one of its low vaults my mother saysT
I found a hole I said and spiral stairS
Leading from level of the ground aboveK2
To a low vaulted room within the rockL3
Whence through a small square window I looked forthU
Wide o'er the waters the dim sounding wavesT
Were many feet below and shrunk in sizeT
To a great ripple 'Twas not there she saidG2
Not in that room half up the cliff but oneM
Low down within the margin of spring tidesT
When both the tide and northern wind are highR
'Tis more an ocean cave than castle vaultM3
And then she told me all she knew of herD2
-
It was a simple tale a monotoneN3
She climbed one sunny hill gazed once abroadO3
Then wandered down to pace a dreary plainY2
Alas how many such are told by nightE
In fisher cottages along the shoreL
-
Farewell old summer day I turn asideD3
To tell her story interwoven with thoughtsT
Born of its sorrow for I dare not thinkP3
A woman at the mercy of a seaT

George Macdonald



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about A Story Of The Sea-shore: Introduction poem by George Macdonald


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 5 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets