The Foot Races Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABACDEFEGHGIGFJK LHLBMCNOPJPFFBFB QRQISRFCFFFRFCFRTFUC CICOFCFF R R F V WCWUFFFCFFFX C FMFORFRYFCFCFIFHHCZC A2XA2CB2RB2CC2FC2ICR CRCD2CKCD2CC IRIUCFCFPIPCIE2IFFFF FFFFIB2RFFFD2FFB2FB2 FRRRFRHF2IF2FFFFF

On an arm of an oak hangs the prizeA
for the swiftest and strongest of runnersB
A blanket as red as the skiesA
when the flames sweep the plains in OctoberC
And beside it a strong polished bowD
and a quiver of iron tipped arrowsE
Which Kapoza's tall chief will bestowF
on the fleet footed second that followsE
A score of swift runners are thereG
from the several bands of the nationH
And now for the race they prepareG
and among them fleet footed TamdokaI
With the oil of the buck and the bearG
their sinewy limbs are annointedF
For fleet are the feet of the deerJ
and strong are the limbs of the bruinK
-
Hark the shouts and the braying of drumsL
and the Babel of tongues and confusionH
From his teepee the tall chieftain comesL
and DuLuth brings a prize for the runnersB
A keen hunting knife from the SeineM
horn handled and mounted with silverC
The runners are ranged on the plainN
and the Chief waves a flag as a signalO
And away like the gray wolves they flyP
like the wolves on the trail of the red deerJ
O'er the hills and the prairie they vieP
and strain their strong limbs to the utmostF
While high on the hills hangs a cloudF
of warriors and maidens and mothersB
To see the swift runners and loudF
are the cheers and the shouts of the warriorsB
-
Now swift from the lake they returnQ
o'er the emerald hills of the prairiesR
Like grey hounds they pant and they yearnQ
and the leader of all is TamdokaI
At his heels flies Hu pa hu AAS
the fleet the pride of the band of KaozaR
A warrior with eagle winged feetF
but his prize is the bow and the quiverC
Tamdoka first reaches the postF
and his are the knife and the blanketF
By the mighty acclaim of the hostF
and award of the chief and the judgesR
Then proud was the tall warrior's strideF
and haughty his look and demeanorC
He boasted aloud in his prideF
and he scoffed at the rest of the runnersR
Behold me for I am a man ABT
my feet are as swift as the West windF
With the coons and the beavers I ranU
but where is the elk or the cabriC
Come where is the hunter will dareC
match his feet with the feet of TamdokaI
Let him think of Tate AC and bewareC
ere he stake his last robe on the trialO
Oho Ho Ho heca AD they jeeredF
for they liked not the boast of the boasterC
But to match him no warrior appearedF
for his feet wore the wings of the west windF
-
AA The wingsR
-
AB A favorite boast of the Dakota bravesR
-
AC The windF
-
AD About equivalent to Oho Aha fudgeV
-
Then forth from the side of the chiefW
stepped DuLuth and he looked on the boasterC
The words of a warrior are briefW
I will run with the brave said the FrenchmanU
But the feet of Tamdoka are tiredF
abide till the cool of the sunsetF
All the hunters and maidens admiredF
for strong were the limbs of the strangerC
Hiwo Ho AE they shoutedF
and loud rose the cheers of the multitude mingledF
And there in the midst of the crowdF
stood the glad eyed and blushing WinonaX
-
AE Hurra thereC
-
Now afar o'er the plains of the westF
walked the sun at the end of his journeyM
And forth came the brave and the guestF
at the tap of the drum for the trialO
Like a forest of larches the hordesR
were gathered to witness the contestF
As loud as the drums were their wordsR
and they roared like the roar of the Ha haY
For some for Tamdoka contendF
and some for the fair bearded strangerC
And the betting runs high to the endF
with the skins of the bison and beaverC
A wife of tall Wazi kuteF
the mother of boastful TamdokaI
Brought her handsomest robe from the teeF
with a vaunting and loud proclamationH
She would stake her last robe on her sonH
who she boasted was fleet as the cabriC
And the tall tawny chieftain looked onZ
approving the boast of the motherC
Then fleet as the feet of a fawnA2
to her lodge ran the dark eyed WinonaX
She brought and she spread on the lawnA2
by the side of the robe of the boasterC
The lily red mantel DuLuthB2
with his own hands had laid on her shouldersR
Tamdoka is swift but forsoothB2
the tongue of his mother is swifterC
She said and her face was aflameC2
with the red of the rose and the lilyF
And loud was the roar of acclaimC2
but dark was the face of TamdokaI
They strip for the race and prepareC
DuLuth in his breeches and legginsR
And the brown curling locks of his hairC
down droop to his bare brawny shouldersR
And his face wears a smile debonairC
as he tightens his red sash around himD2
But stripped to the moccasins bareC
save the belt and the breech clout of buckskinK
Stands the haughty Tamdoka awareC
that the eyes of the warriors admire himD2
For his arms are the arms of a bearC
and his legs are the legs of a pantherC
-
The drum beats the chief waves the flagI
and away on the course speed the runnersR
And away leads the brave like a stagI
like a bound on his track flies the FrenchmanU
And away haste the hunters once moreC
to the hills for a view to the lakesideF
And the dark swarming hill tops they roarC
with the storm of loud voices commingledF
Far away o'er the prairie they flyP
and still in the lead is TamdokaI
But the feet of his rival are nighP
and slowly he gains on the hunterC
Now they turn on the post at the lakeI
now they run full abreast on the home stretchE2
Side by side they contend for the stakeI
for a long mile or more on the prairieF
They strain like a stag and a houndF
when the swift river gleams through the thicketF
And the horns of the riders resoundF
winding shrill through the depths of the forestF
But behold at full length on the groundF
falls the fleet footed Frenchman abruptlyF
And away with a whoop and a boundF
springs the eager exulting TamdokaI
Long and loud on the hills is theB2
shout of his swarthy admirers and backersR
But the race is not won till it's outF
said DuLuth to himself as he gatheredF
With a frown on his face for the footF
of the wily Tamdoka had tripped himD2
Far ahead ran the brave on the routeF
and turning he boasted exultantF
Like spurs to the steed to DuLuthB2
were the jeers and the taunts of the boasterF
Indignant was he and red wrothB2
at the trick of the runner dishonestF
And away like a whirlwind he speedsR
like a hurricane mad from the mountainsR
He gains on Tamdoka he leadsR
and behold with the spring of a pantherF
He leaps to the goal and succeedsR
'mid the roar of the mad acclamationH
Then glad as the robin in MayF2
was the voice of Winona exultingI
Tamdoka turned sullen awayF2
and sulking he walked by the riverF
He glowered as he went and the fireF
of revenge in his bosom was kindledF
Dark was his visage with ireF
and his eyes were the eyes of a pantherF

Hanford Lennox Gordon



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