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 FRRRFRHF2IF2FFFFFOn 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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