Wake Nicodemus! Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD ECFGC HIHIJKJD LMLMNONO PQPQRCRC| Nicodemus the slave was of African birth | A |
| And was bought for a bagful of gold | B |
| He was reckon'd as part of the salt of the earth | A |
| But he died years ago very old | B |
| 'Twas his last sad request as we laid him away | C |
| In the trunk of an old hollow tree | D |
| Wake me up was his charge at the first break of day | C |
| Wake me up for the great Jubilee | D |
| - | |
| The Good Time Coming is almost here | E |
| It was long long long on the way | C |
| Now run and tell Elijah to hurry up Pump | F |
| And meet me at the gumtree in the swamp | G |
| To wake Nicodemus today | C |
| - | |
| He was known as a prophet at least was as wise | H |
| For he told of the battles to come | I |
| And we trembled with dread when he roll'd up his eyes | H |
| And we heeded the shake of his thumb | I |
| Though he clothed us with fear yet the garments he wore | J |
| Were in patches at elbow and knees | K |
| And he still wears the suit that he used to of yore | J |
| As he sleeps in the old hollow tree | D |
| - | |
| Nicodemus was never the sport of the lash | L |
| Though the bullet has oft cross'd his path | M |
| There were none of his masters so brave or so rash | L |
| As to face such a man in his wrath | M |
| Yet his great heart with kindness was filled to the brim | N |
| He obeyed who was born to command | O |
| But he long'd for the morning which then was so dim | N |
| For the morning which now is at hand | O |
| - | |
| 'Twas a long weary night we were almost in fear | P |
| That the future was more than he knew | Q |
| 'Twas a long weary night but the morning is near | P |
| And the words of our prophet are true | Q |
| There are signs in the sky that the darkness is gone | R |
| There are tokens in endless array | C |
| While the storm which had seemingly banished the dawn | R |
| Only hastens the advent of day | C |
Henry Clay Work
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Wake Nicodemus! poem by Henry Clay Work
Best Poems of Henry Clay Work