A Prize Poem Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCDEFEFGBGHHIIJ KLKLJMNONOMPPOLQQRRS SDLSTCCUUVWDTCXYDUHZ HZA2B2C2C2A2B2 D2D2E2OF2G2G2OH2I2BH 2E2SBSBJ2H2J2H2J2K2J 2K2L2M2L2N2 O2O2RRP2Q2R2RRR2RD2P 2D2RQ2S2S2RR RRRQRQRRRA fairy ring | A |
Drawn in the crimson of a battle plain | B |
From whose weird circle every loathsome thing | A |
And sight and sound of pain | B |
Are banished while about it in the air | C |
And from the ground and from the low hung skies | D |
Throng in a vision fair | C |
As ever lit a prophet's dying eyes | D |
Gleams of that unseen world | E |
That lies about us rainbow tinted shapes | F |
With starry wings unfurled | E |
Poised for a moment on such airy capes | F |
As pierce the golden foam | G |
Of sunset's silent main | B |
Would image what in this enchanted dome | G |
Amid the night of war and death | H |
In which the arm ed city draws its breath | H |
We have built up | I |
For though no wizard wand or magic cup | I |
The spell hath wrought | J |
Within this charm ed fane we ope the gates | K |
Of that divinest Fairy land | L |
Where under loftier fates | K |
Than rule the vulgar earth on which we stand | L |
Move the bright creatures of the realm of thought | J |
Shut for one happy evening from the flood | M |
That roars around us here you may behold | N |
As if a desert way | O |
Could blossom and unfold | N |
A garden fresh with May | O |
Substantialized in breathing flesh and blood | M |
Souls that upon the poet's page | P |
Have lived from age to age | P |
And yet have never donned this mortal clay | O |
A golden strand | L |
Shall sometimes spread before you like the isle | Q |
Where fair Miranda's smile | Q |
Met the sweet stranger whom the father's art | R |
Had led unto her heart | R |
Which like a bud that waited for the light | S |
Burst into bloom at sight | S |
Love shall grow softer in each maiden's eyes | D |
As Juliet leans her cheek upon her hand | L |
And prattles to the night | S |
Anon a reverend form | T |
With tattered robe and forehead bare | C |
That challenge all the torments of the air | C |
Goes by | U |
And the pent feelings choke in one long sigh | U |
While as the mimic thunder rolls you hear | V |
The noble wreck of Lear | W |
Reproach like things of life the ancient skies | D |
And commune with the storm | T |
Lo next a dim and silent chamber where | C |
Wrapt in glad dreams in which perchance the Moor | X |
Tells his strange story o'er | Y |
The gentle Desdemona chastely lies | D |
Unconscious of the loving murderer nigh | U |
Then through a hush like death | H |
Stalks Denmark's mail ed ghost | Z |
And Hamlet enters with that thoughtful breath | H |
Which is the trumpet to a countless host | Z |
Of reasons but which wakes no deed from sleep | A2 |
For while it calls to strife | B2 |
He pauses on the very brink of fact | C2 |
To toy as with the shadow of an act | C2 |
And utter those wise saws that cut so deep | A2 |
Into the core of life | B2 |
- | |
Nor shall be wanting many a scene | D2 |
Where forms of more familiar mien | D2 |
Moving through lowlier pathways shall present | E2 |
The world of every day | O |
Such as it whirls along the busy quay | F2 |
Or sits beneath a rustic orchard wall | G2 |
Or floats about a fashion freighted hall | G2 |
Or toils in attics dark the night away | O |
Love hate grief joy gain glory shame shall meet | H2 |
As in the round wherein our lives are pent | I2 |
Chance for a while shall seem to reign | B |
While Goodness roves like Guilt about the street | H2 |
And Guilt looks innocent | E2 |
But all at last shall vindicate the right | S |
Crime shall be meted with its proper pain | B |
Motes shall be taken from the doubter's sight | S |
And Fortune's general justice rendered plain | B |
Of honest laughter there shall be no dearth | J2 |
Wit shall shake hands with humor grave and sweet | H2 |
Our wisdom shall not be too wise for mirth | J2 |
Nor kindred follies want a fool to greet | H2 |
As sometimes from the meanest spot of earth | J2 |
A sudden beauty unexpected starts | K2 |
So you shall find some germs of hidden worth | J2 |
Within the vilest hearts | K2 |
And now and then when in those moods that turn | L2 |
To the cold Muse that whips a fault with sneers | M2 |
You shall perchance be strangely touched to learn | L2 |
You've struck a spring of tears | N2 |
- | |
But while we lead you thus from change to change | O2 |
Shall we not find within our ample range | O2 |
Some type to elevate a people's heart | R |
Some hero who shall teach a hero's part | R |
In this distracted time | P2 |
Rise from thy sleep of ages noble Tell | Q2 |
And with the Alpine thunders of thy voice | R2 |
As if across the billows unenthralled | R |
Thy Alps unto the Alleghanies called | R |
Bid Liberty rejoice | R2 |
Proclaim upon this trans Atlantic strand | R |
The deeds which more than their own awful mien | D2 |
Make every crag of Switzerland sublime | P2 |
And say to those whose feeble souls would lean | D2 |
Not on themselves but on some outstretched hand | R |
That once a single mind sufficed to quell | Q2 |
The malice of a tyrant let them know | S2 |
That each may crowd in every well aimed blow | S2 |
Not the poor strength alone of arm and brand | R |
But the whole spirit of a mighty land | R |
- | |
Bid Liberty rejoice Aye though its day | R |
Be far or near these clouds shall yet be red | R |
With the large promise of the coming ray | R |
Meanwhile with that calm courage which can smile | Q |
Amid the terrors of the wildest fray | R |
Let us among the charms of Art awhile | Q |
Fleet the deep gloom away | R |
Nor yet forget that on each hand and head | R |
Rest the dear rights for which we fight and pray | R |
Henry Timrod
(1)
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