Death Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEDE FGFG HIHI JKJK LMLM NHNH OIOI PQRQ SHSH NANC HJHJ| My body eh Friend Death how now | A |
| Why all this tedious pomp of writ | B |
| Thou hast reclaimed it sure and slow | C |
| For half a century bit by bit | B |
| - | |
| In faith thou knowest more to day | D |
| Than I do where it can be found | E |
| This shrivelled lump of suffering clay | D |
| To which I am now chained and bound | E |
| - | |
| Has not of kith or kin a trace | F |
| To the good body once I bore | G |
| Look at this shrunken ghastly face | F |
| Didst ever see that face before | G |
| - | |
| Ah well friend Death good friend thou art | H |
| Thy only fault thy lagging gait | I |
| Mistaken pity in thy heart | H |
| For timorous ones that bid thee wait | I |
| - | |
| Do quickly all thou hast to do | J |
| Nor I nor mine will hindrance make | K |
| I shall be free when thou art through | J |
| I grudge thee nought that thou must take | K |
| - | |
| Stay I have lied I grudge thee one | L |
| Yes two I grudge thee at this last | M |
| Two members which have faithful done | L |
| My will and bidding in the past | M |
| - | |
| I grudge thee this right hand of mine | N |
| I grudge thee this quick beating heart | H |
| They never gave me coward sign | N |
| Nor played me once the traitor's part | H |
| - | |
| I see now why in olden days | O |
| Men in barbaric love or hate | I |
| Nailed enemies' hands at wild crossways | O |
| Shrined leaders' hearts in costly state | I |
| - | |
| The symbol sign and instrument | P |
| Of each soul's purpose passion strife | Q |
| Of fires in which are poured and spent | R |
| Their all of love their all of life | Q |
| - | |
| O feeble mighty human hand | S |
| O fragile dauntless human heart | H |
| The universe holds nothing planned | S |
| With such sublime transcendent art | H |
| - | |
| Yes Death I own I grudge thee mine | N |
| Poor little hand so feeble now | A |
| Its wrinkled palm its altered line | N |
| Its veins so pallid and so slow | C |
| - | |
| Ah well friend Death good friend thou art | H |
| I shall be free when thou art through | J |
| Take all there is take hand and heart | H |
| There must be somewhere work to do | J |
Helen Hunt Jackson
(1)
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