A Prize Poem Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCDEFEFGBGHHIIJ KLKLJMNONOMPPOLQQRRS SDLSTCCUUVWDTCXYDUHZ HZA2B2C2C2A2B2 D2D2E2OF2G2G2OH2I2BH 2E2SBSBJ2H2J2H2J2K2J 2K2L2M2L2N2 O2O2RRP2Q2R2RRR2RD2P 2D2RQ2S2S2RR RRRQRQRRR

A fairy ringA
Drawn in the crimson of a battle plainB
From whose weird circle every loathsome thingA
And sight and sound of painB
Are banished while about it in the airC
And from the ground and from the low hung skiesD
Throng in a vision fairC
As ever lit a prophet's dying eyesD
Gleams of that unseen worldE
That lies about us rainbow tinted shapesF
With starry wings unfurledE
Poised for a moment on such airy capesF
As pierce the golden foamG
Of sunset's silent mainB
Would image what in this enchanted domeG
Amid the night of war and deathH
In which the arm ed city draws its breathH
We have built upI
For though no wizard wand or magic cupI
The spell hath wroughtJ
Within this charm ed fane we ope the gatesK
Of that divinest Fairy landL
Where under loftier fatesK
Than rule the vulgar earth on which we standL
Move the bright creatures of the realm of thoughtJ
Shut for one happy evening from the floodM
That roars around us here you may beholdN
As if a desert wayO
Could blossom and unfoldN
A garden fresh with MayO
Substantialized in breathing flesh and bloodM
Souls that upon the poet's pageP
Have lived from age to ageP
And yet have never donned this mortal clayO
A golden strandL
Shall sometimes spread before you like the isleQ
Where fair Miranda's smileQ
Met the sweet stranger whom the father's artR
Had led unto her heartR
Which like a bud that waited for the lightS
Burst into bloom at sightS
Love shall grow softer in each maiden's eyesD
As Juliet leans her cheek upon her handL
And prattles to the nightS
Anon a reverend formT
With tattered robe and forehead bareC
That challenge all the torments of the airC
Goes byU
And the pent feelings choke in one long sighU
While as the mimic thunder rolls you hearV
The noble wreck of LearW
Reproach like things of life the ancient skiesD
And commune with the stormT
Lo next a dim and silent chamber whereC
Wrapt in glad dreams in which perchance the MoorX
Tells his strange story o'erY
The gentle Desdemona chastely liesD
Unconscious of the loving murderer nighU
Then through a hush like deathH
Stalks Denmark's mail ed ghostZ
And Hamlet enters with that thoughtful breathH
Which is the trumpet to a countless hostZ
Of reasons but which wakes no deed from sleepA2
For while it calls to strifeB2
He pauses on the very brink of factC2
To toy as with the shadow of an actC2
And utter those wise saws that cut so deepA2
Into the core of lifeB2
-
Nor shall be wanting many a sceneD2
Where forms of more familiar mienD2
Moving through lowlier pathways shall presentE2
The world of every dayO
Such as it whirls along the busy quayF2
Or sits beneath a rustic orchard wallG2
Or floats about a fashion freighted hallG2
Or toils in attics dark the night awayO
Love hate grief joy gain glory shame shall meetH2
As in the round wherein our lives are pentI2
Chance for a while shall seem to reignB
While Goodness roves like Guilt about the streetH2
And Guilt looks innocentE2
But all at last shall vindicate the rightS
Crime shall be meted with its proper painB
Motes shall be taken from the doubter's sightS
And Fortune's general justice rendered plainB
Of honest laughter there shall be no dearthJ2
Wit shall shake hands with humor grave and sweetH2
Our wisdom shall not be too wise for mirthJ2
Nor kindred follies want a fool to greetH2
As sometimes from the meanest spot of earthJ2
A sudden beauty unexpected startsK2
So you shall find some germs of hidden worthJ2
Within the vilest heartsK2
And now and then when in those moods that turnL2
To the cold Muse that whips a fault with sneersM2
You shall perchance be strangely touched to learnL2
You've struck a spring of tearsN2
-
But while we lead you thus from change to changeO2
Shall we not find within our ample rangeO2
Some type to elevate a people's heartR
Some hero who shall teach a hero's partR
In this distracted timeP2
Rise from thy sleep of ages noble TellQ2
And with the Alpine thunders of thy voiceR2
As if across the billows unenthralledR
Thy Alps unto the Alleghanies calledR
Bid Liberty rejoiceR2
Proclaim upon this trans Atlantic strandR
The deeds which more than their own awful mienD2
Make every crag of Switzerland sublimeP2
And say to those whose feeble souls would leanD2
Not on themselves but on some outstretched handR
That once a single mind sufficed to quellQ2
The malice of a tyrant let them knowS2
That each may crowd in every well aimed blowS2
Not the poor strength alone of arm and brandR
But the whole spirit of a mighty landR
-
Bid Liberty rejoice Aye though its dayR
Be far or near these clouds shall yet be redR
With the large promise of the coming rayR
Meanwhile with that calm courage which can smileQ
Amid the terrors of the wildest frayR
Let us among the charms of Art awhileQ
Fleet the deep gloom awayR
Nor yet forget that on each hand and headR
Rest the dear rights for which we fight and prayR

Henry Timrod



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