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 prize | A |
| for the swiftest and strongest of runners | B |
| A blanket as red as the skies | A |
| when the flames sweep the plains in October | C |
| And beside it a strong polished bow | D |
| and a quiver of iron tipped arrows | E |
| Which Kapoza's tall chief will bestow | F |
| on the fleet footed second that follows | E |
| A score of swift runners are there | G |
| from the several bands of the nation | H |
| And now for the race they prepare | G |
| and among them fleet footed Tamdoka | I |
| With the oil of the buck and the bear | G |
| their sinewy limbs are annointed | F |
| For fleet are the feet of the deer | J |
| and strong are the limbs of the bruin | K |
| - | |
| Hark the shouts and the braying of drums | L |
| and the Babel of tongues and confusion | H |
| From his teepee the tall chieftain comes | L |
| and DuLuth brings a prize for the runners | B |
| A keen hunting knife from the Seine | M |
| horn handled and mounted with silver | C |
| The runners are ranged on the plain | N |
| and the Chief waves a flag as a signal | O |
| And away like the gray wolves they fly | P |
| like the wolves on the trail of the red deer | J |
| O'er the hills and the prairie they vie | P |
| and strain their strong limbs to the utmost | F |
| While high on the hills hangs a cloud | F |
| of warriors and maidens and mothers | B |
| To see the swift runners and loud | F |
| are the cheers and the shouts of the warriors | B |
| - | |
| Now swift from the lake they return | Q |
| o'er the emerald hills of the prairies | R |
| Like grey hounds they pant and they yearn | Q |
| and the leader of all is Tamdoka | I |
| At his heels flies Hu pa hu AA | S |
| the fleet the pride of the band of Kaoza | R |
| A warrior with eagle winged feet | F |
| but his prize is the bow and the quiver | C |
| Tamdoka first reaches the post | F |
| and his are the knife and the blanket | F |
| By the mighty acclaim of the host | F |
| and award of the chief and the judges | R |
| Then proud was the tall warrior's stride | F |
| and haughty his look and demeanor | C |
| He boasted aloud in his pride | F |
| and he scoffed at the rest of the runners | R |
| Behold me for I am a man AB | T |
| my feet are as swift as the West wind | F |
| With the coons and the beavers I ran | U |
| but where is the elk or the cabri | C |
| Come where is the hunter will dare | C |
| match his feet with the feet of Tamdoka | I |
| Let him think of Tate AC and beware | C |
| ere he stake his last robe on the trial | O |
| Oho Ho Ho heca AD they jeered | F |
| for they liked not the boast of the boaster | C |
| But to match him no warrior appeared | F |
| for his feet wore the wings of the west wind | F |
| - | |
| AA The wings | R |
| - | |
| AB A favorite boast of the Dakota braves | R |
| - | |
| AC The wind | F |
| - | |
| AD About equivalent to Oho Aha fudge | V |
| - | |
| Then forth from the side of the chief | W |
| stepped DuLuth and he looked on the boaster | C |
| The words of a warrior are brief | W |
| I will run with the brave said the Frenchman | U |
| But the feet of Tamdoka are tired | F |
| abide till the cool of the sunset | F |
| All the hunters and maidens admired | F |
| for strong were the limbs of the stranger | C |
| Hiwo Ho AE they shouted | F |
| and loud rose the cheers of the multitude mingled | F |
| And there in the midst of the crowd | F |
| stood the glad eyed and blushing Winona | X |
| - | |
| AE Hurra there | C |
| - | |
| Now afar o'er the plains of the west | F |
| walked the sun at the end of his journey | M |
| And forth came the brave and the guest | F |
| at the tap of the drum for the trial | O |
| Like a forest of larches the hordes | R |
| were gathered to witness the contest | F |
| As loud as the drums were their words | R |
| and they roared like the roar of the Ha ha | Y |
| For some for Tamdoka contend | F |
| and some for the fair bearded stranger | C |
| And the betting runs high to the end | F |
| with the skins of the bison and beaver | C |
| A wife of tall Wazi kute | F |
| the mother of boastful Tamdoka | I |
| Brought her handsomest robe from the tee | F |
| with a vaunting and loud proclamation | H |
| She would stake her last robe on her son | H |
| who she boasted was fleet as the cabri | C |
| And the tall tawny chieftain looked on | Z |
| approving the boast of the mother | C |
| Then fleet as the feet of a fawn | A2 |
| to her lodge ran the dark eyed Winona | X |
| She brought and she spread on the lawn | A2 |
| by the side of the robe of the boaster | C |
| The lily red mantel DuLuth | B2 |
| with his own hands had laid on her shoulders | R |
| Tamdoka is swift but forsooth | B2 |
| the tongue of his mother is swifter | C |
| She said and her face was aflame | C2 |
| with the red of the rose and the lily | F |
| And loud was the roar of acclaim | C2 |
| but dark was the face of Tamdoka | I |
| They strip for the race and prepare | C |
| DuLuth in his breeches and leggins | R |
| And the brown curling locks of his hair | C |
| down droop to his bare brawny shoulders | R |
| And his face wears a smile debonair | C |
| as he tightens his red sash around him | D2 |
| But stripped to the moccasins bare | C |
| save the belt and the breech clout of buckskin | K |
| Stands the haughty Tamdoka aware | C |
| that the eyes of the warriors admire him | D2 |
| For his arms are the arms of a bear | C |
| and his legs are the legs of a panther | C |
| - | |
| The drum beats the chief waves the flag | I |
| and away on the course speed the runners | R |
| And away leads the brave like a stag | I |
| like a bound on his track flies the Frenchman | U |
| And away haste the hunters once more | C |
| to the hills for a view to the lakeside | F |
| And the dark swarming hill tops they roar | C |
| with the storm of loud voices commingled | F |
| Far away o'er the prairie they fly | P |
| and still in the lead is Tamdoka | I |
| But the feet of his rival are nigh | P |
| and slowly he gains on the hunter | C |
| Now they turn on the post at the lake | I |
| now they run full abreast on the home stretch | E2 |
| Side by side they contend for the stake | I |
| for a long mile or more on the prairie | F |
| They strain like a stag and a hound | F |
| when the swift river gleams through the thicket | F |
| And the horns of the riders resound | F |
| winding shrill through the depths of the forest | F |
| But behold at full length on the ground | F |
| falls the fleet footed Frenchman abruptly | F |
| And away with a whoop and a bound | F |
| springs the eager exulting Tamdoka | I |
| Long and loud on the hills is the | B2 |
| shout of his swarthy admirers and backers | R |
| But the race is not won till it's out | F |
| said DuLuth to himself as he gathered | F |
| With a frown on his face for the foot | F |
| of the wily Tamdoka had tripped him | D2 |
| Far ahead ran the brave on the route | F |
| and turning he boasted exultant | F |
| Like spurs to the steed to DuLuth | B2 |
| were the jeers and the taunts of the boaster | F |
| Indignant was he and red wroth | B2 |
| at the trick of the runner dishonest | F |
| And away like a whirlwind he speeds | R |
| like a hurricane mad from the mountains | R |
| He gains on Tamdoka he leads | R |
| and behold with the spring of a panther | F |
| He leaps to the goal and succeeds | R |
| 'mid the roar of the mad acclamation | H |
| Then glad as the robin in May | F2 |
| was the voice of Winona exulting | I |
| Tamdoka turned sullen away | F2 |
| and sulking he walked by the river | F |
| He glowered as he went and the fire | F |
| of revenge in his bosom was kindled | F |
| Dark was his visage with ire | F |
| and his eyes were the eyes of a panther | F |
Hanford Lennox Gordon
(1)
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About The Foot Races
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