The Mississippi Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEECC FFGGHHCCIIJJ KKLLMMNNJJCCKK OHJJCC IIPPCCEQCC AACCCC JJMMRRCCKKSI

Onward rolls the Royal River proudly sweeping to the seaA
Dark and deep and grand forever wrapt in myth and mysteryA
Lo he laughs along the highlands leaping o'er the granite wallsB
Lo he sleeps among the islands where the loon her lover callsB
Still like some huge monster winding downward through the prairied plainsC
Seeking rest but never finding till the tropic gulf he gainsC
In his mighty arms he claspeth now an empire broad and grandD
In his left hand lo he graspeth leagues of fen and forest landD
In his right the mighty mountains hoary with eternal snowE
Where a thousand foaming fountains singing seek the plains belowE
Fields of corn and feet of cities lo the mighty river lavesC
Where the Saxon sings his ditties o'er the swarthy warriors' gravesC
-
Aye before the birth of Moses ere the Pyramids were piledF
All his banks were red with roses from the sea to nor'lands wildF
And from forest fen and meadows in the deserts of the northG
Elk and bison stalked like shadows and the tawny tribes came forthG
Deeds of death and deeds of daring on his leafy banks were doneH
Women loved and men went warring ere the siege of Troy begunH
Where his foaming waters thundered roaring o'er the rocky wallsC
Dusky hunters sat and wondered listening to the spirits' callsC
Ha ha cried the warrior greeting from afar the cataract's roarI
Ha ha rolled the answer beating down the rock ribbed leagues of shoreI
Now alas the bow and quiver and the dusky braves have fledJ
And the sullen shackled river drives the droning mills insteadJ
-
Where the war whoop rose and after women wailed their warriors slainK
List the Saxon's silvery laughter and his humming hives of gainK
Swiftly sped the tawny runner o'er the pathless prairies thenL
Now the iron reindeer sooner carries weal or woe to menL
On thy bosom Royal River silent sped the birch canoeM
Bearing brave with bow and quiver on his way to war or wooM
Now with flaunting flags and streamers mighty monsters of the deepN
Lo the puffing panting steamers through thy foaming waters sweepN
And behold the grain fields golden where the bison grazed of eldJ
See the fanes of forests olden by the ruthless Saxon felledJ
Plumed pines that spread their shadows ere Columbus spread his sailsC
Firs that fringed the mossy meadows ere the Mayflower braved the galesC
Iron oaks that nourished bruin while the Vikings roamed the mainK
Crashing fall in broken ruin for the greedy marts of gainK
-
Still forever and forever rolls the restless river onO
Slumbering oft but ceasing never while the circling centuries runH
In his palm the lakelet lingers in his hair the brooklets hideJ
Grasped within his thousand fingers lies a continent fair and wideJ
Yea a mighty empire swarming with its millions like the beesC
Delving drudging striving storming all their lives for golden easeC
-
Still methinks the dusky shadows of the days that are no moreI
Stalk around the lakes and meadows haunting oft the wonted shoreI
Hunters from the land of spirits seek the bison and the deerP
Where the Saxon now inherits golden field and silver mereP
And beside the mound where buried lies the dark eyed maid he lovesC
Some tall warrior wan and wearied in the misty moonlight movesC
See he stands erect and lingers stoic still but loth to goE
Clutching in his tawny fingers feathered shaft and polished bowQ
Never wail or moan he utters and no tear is on his faceC
But a warrior's curse he mutters on the crafty Saxon raceC
-
O thou dark mysterious River speak and tell thy tales to meA
Seal not up thy lips forever veiled in mist and mysteryA
I will sit and lowly listen at the phantom haunted fallsC
Where thy waters foam and glisten o'er the rugged rocky wallsC
Till some spirit of the olden mystic weird romantic daysC
Shall emerge and pour her golden tales and legends through my laysC
-
Then again the elk and bison on thy grassy banks shall feedJ
And along the low horizon shall the plumed hunter speedJ
Then again on lake and river shall the silent birch canoeM
Bear the brave with bow and quiver on his way to war or wooM
Then the beaver on the meadow shall rebuild his broken wallR
And the wolf shall chase his shadow and his mate the panther callR
From the prairies and the regions where the pine plumed forest growsC
Shall arise the tawny legions with their lances and their bowsC
And again the cries of battle shall resound along the plainK
Bows shall twang and quivers rattle women wail their warriors slainK
And by lodge fire lowly burning shall the mother from afarS
List her warrior's steps returning from the daring deeds of warI

Hanford Lennox Gordon



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