Jessamine Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBC DDEEC FFAAC AAGGC HHAAC AAIJC KKLLC AAAAC MMNNC DDAAC FFOOC PPAAC DDAAC QQRRC PPAAC AAAAC

Here stands the great tree still with broad bent headA
And wide arms grown aweary yet outspreadA
With their old blessing But wan memory weavesB
Strange garlands now amongst the darkening leavesB
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Beneath these glimmering arches JessamineD
Walked with her lover long ago and inD
This moon made shade he questioned and she spokeE
Then on them both love's rarer radiance brokeE
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Sweet Jessamine we called her for she shoneF
Like blossoms that in sun and shade have grownF
Gathering from each alike a perfect whiteA
Whose rich bloom breaks opaque through darkest nightA
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
And for this sweetness Walt her lover soughtA
To win her wooed her here his heart full fraughtA
With fragrance of her being and gained his pleaG
So We will wed they said beneath this treeG
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Was it unfaith or faith more full to herH
Made him for fame and fortune longing spurH
Into the world Far from his home he sailedA
And life paused while she watched joy vanish vailedA
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Oh better at the elm tree's sun browned feetA
If he had been content to let life fleetA
Its wonted way there rearing his small houseI
Mowing and milking lord of corn and cowsJ
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
For as against a snarling sea one steersK
Ever he battled with the beetling yearsK
And ever Jessamine must watch and pineL
Her vision bounded by the bleak sea lineL
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
At last she heard no more The neighbors saidA
That Walt had married faithless or was deadA
Yet naught her trust could move the tryst she keptA
Each night still 'neath this tree before she sleptA
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
So circling years went by and in her faceM
Slow melancholy wrought a tempered graceM
Of early joy with sorrow's rich alloyN
Refined rare no doom should e'er destroyN
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Sometimes at twilight when sweet JessamineD
Slow footed weary eyed passed by to winD
The elm we smiled for pity of her and musedA
On love that so could live with love refusedA
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Nor none could hope for her But she had grownF
Too high in love for hope and bloomed aloneF
Aloft in pure sincerity secureO
For fortune's failures in her faith too sureO
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Oh well for Walt if he had known her soulP
Discouraged on disaster's changeful shoalP
Wrecking he rested starved on selfish prideA
Long years nor would obey love's homeward tideA
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
But bitterly repenting of his sinD
Oh bitterly he learned to look withinD
Sweet Jessamine's clear depth when the past deadA
Mocked him and wild waste years forever fledA
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Late late oh late beneath the tree stood twoQ
In awe and anguish wondering Is it trueQ
Two that were each most like to some wan wraithR
Yet each on each looked with a living faithR
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Even to the tree top sang the wedding bellP
Even to the tree top tolled the passing knellP
Beneath it Walt and Jessamine were wedA
Beneath it many a year she lieth deadA
And the moon hangs low in the elmC
-
Here stands the great tree still But age has creptA
Through every coil while Walt each night has keptA
The tryst alone Hark with what windy mightA
The boughs chant o'er her grave their burial riteA
And the moon hangs low in the elmC

George Parsons Lathrop



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