A Vision Of Poesy - Part 01 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDCEE A FGFGHH A IJIKLL L CMCMNN L OPOPQQ L RSRSTT L KUKUVV L WWWWXX W YZA2ZWW W B2HB2HWW W WC2WC2D2D2 W LWLWLW W RWRWWW L E2WE2WF2F2 L CG2CG2H2H2 L WI2WI2EE L KJ2KJ2II L WE2WE2K2K2 W L2WL2WWW W E2A2E2YWW W E2IE2IM2M2 W N2O2N2O2P2P2 W WCWCO2O2 L O2WO2WO2O2 L O2HO2HWW L Q2WQ2WO2O2 L O2WO2WWW L EWEO2O2O2 W W

IA
-
In a far country and a distant ageB
Ere sprites and fays had bade farewell to earthC
A boy was born of humble parentageD
The stars that shone upon his lonely birthC
Did seem to promise sovereignty and fameE
Yet no tradition hath preserved his nameE
-
IIA
-
'T is said that on the night when he was bornF
A beauteous shape swept slowly through the roomG
Its eyes broke on the infant like a mornF
And his cheek brightened like a rose in bloomG
But as it passed away there followed afterH
A sigh of pain and sounds of elvish laughterH
-
IIIA
-
And so his parents deemed him to be blestI
Beyond the lot of mortals they were poorJ
As the most timid bird that stored its nestI
With the stray gleanings at their cottage doorK
Yet they contrived to rear their little doveL
And he repaid them with the tenderest loveL
-
IVL
-
The child was very beautiful in soothC
And as he waxed in years grew lovelier stillM
On his fair brow the aureole of truthC
Beamed and the purest maidens with a thrillM
Looked in his eyes and from their heaven of blueN
Saw thoughts like sinless Angels peering throughN
-
VL
-
Need there was none of censure or of praiseO
To mould him to the kind parental handP
Yet there was ever something in his waysO
Which those about him could not understandP
A self withdrawn and independent blissQ
Beside the father's love the mother's kissQ
-
VIL
-
For oft when he believed himself aloneR
They caught brief snatches of mysterious rhymesS
Which he would murmur in an undertoneR
Like a pleased bee's in summer and at timesS
A strange far look would come into his eyesT
As if he saw a vision in the skiesT
-
VIIL
-
And he upon a simple leaf would poreK
As if its very texture unto himU
Had some deep meaning sometimes by the doorK
From noon until a summer day grew dimU
He lay and watched the clouds and to his thoughtV
Night with her stars but fitful slumbers broughtV
-
VIIIL
-
In the long hours of twilight when the breezeW
Talked in low tones along the woodland rillsW
Or the loud North its stormy minstrelsiesW
Blent with wild noises from the distant hillsW
The boy his rosy hand against his earX
Curved like a sea shell hushed as some rapt seerX
-
IXW
-
Followed the sounds and ever and againY
As the wind came and went in storm or playZ
He seemed to hearken as to some far strainA2
Of mingled voices calling him awayZ
And they who watched him held their breath to traceW
The still and fixed attention in his faceW
-
XW
-
Once on a cold and loud voiced winter nightB2
The three were seated by their cottage fireH
The mother watching by its flickering lightB2
The wakeful urchin and the dozing sireH
There was a brief quick motion like a bird'sW
And the boy's thought thus rippled into wordsW
-
XIW
-
O mother thou hast taught me many thingsW
But none I think more beautiful than speechC2
A nobler power than even those broad wingsW
I used to pray for when I longed to reachC2
That distant peak which on our vale looks downD2
And wears the star of evening for a crownD2
-
XIIW
-
But mother while our human words are rifeL
To us with meaning other sounds there beW
Which seem and are the language of a lifeL
Around yet unlike ours winds talk the seaW
Murmurs articulately and the skyL
Listens and answers though inaudiblyW
-
XIIIW
-
By stream and spring in glades and woodlands loneR
Beside our very cot I've gathered flowersW
Inscribed with signs and characters unknownR
But the frail scrolls still baffle all my powersW
What is this language and where is the keyW
That opes its weird and wondrous mysteryW
-
XIVL
-
The forests know it and the mountains knowE2
And it is written in the sunset's dyesW
A revelation to the world belowE2
Is daily going on before our eyesW
And but for sinful thoughts I do not doubtF2
That we could spell the thrilling secret outF2
-
XVL
-
O mother somewhere on this lovely earthC
I lived and understood that mystic tongueG2
But for some reason to my second birthC
Only the dullest memories have clungG2
Like that fair tree that even while blossomingH2
Keeps the dead berries of a former springH2
-
XVIL
-
Who shall put life in these my nightly dreamsW
Some teacher of supernal powers foretellI2
A fair and stately shape appears which seemsW
Bright with all truth and once in a dark dellI2
Within the forest unto me there cameE
A voice that must be hers which called my nameE
-
XVIIL
-
Puzzled and frightened wondering more and moreK
The mother heard but did not comprehendJ2
So early dallying with forbidden loreK
Oh what will chance and wherein will it endJ2
My child my child she caught him to her breastI
Oh let me kiss these wildering thoughts to restI
-
XVIIIL
-
They cannot come from God who freely givesW
All that we need to have or ought to knowE2
Beware my son some evil influence strivesW
To grieve thy parents and to work thee woeE2
Alas the vision I misunderstoodK2
It could not be an angel fair and goodK2
-
XIXW
-
And then in low and tremulous tones she toldL2
The story of his birth night the boy's eyesW
As the wild tale went on were bright and boldL2
With a weird look that did not seem surpriseW
Perhaps he said this lady and her elvesW
Will one day come and take me to themselvesW
-
XXW
-
And wouldst thou leave us Dearest mother noE2
Hush I will check these thoughts that give thee painA2
Or if they flow as they perchance must flowE2
At least I will not utter them againY
Hark didst thou hear a voice like many streamsW
Mother it is the spirit of my dreamsW
-
XXIW
-
Thenceforth whatever impulse stirred belowE2
In the deep heart beneath that childish breastI
Those lips were sealed and though the eye would glowE2
Yet the brow wore an air of perfect restI
Cheerful content with calm though strong controlM2
He shut the temple portals of his soulM2
-
XXIIW
-
And when too restlessly the mighty throngN2
Of fancies woke within his teeming mindO2
All silently they formed in glorious songN2
And floated off unheard and undivinedO2
Perchance not lost with many a voiceless prayerP2
They reached the sky and found some record thereP2
-
XXIIIW
-
Softly and swiftly sped the quiet daysW
The thoughtful boy has blossomed into youthC
And still no maiden would have feared his gazeW
And still his brow was noble with the truthC
Yet though he masks the pain with pious artO2
There burns a restless fever in his heartO2
-
XXIVL
-
A childish dream is now a deathless needO2
Which drives him to far hills and distant wildsW
The solemn faith and fervor of his creedO2
Bold as a martyr's simple as a child'sW
The eagle knew him as she knew the blastO2
And the deer did not flee him as he passedO2
-
XXVL
-
But gentle even in his wildest moodO2
Always and most he loved the bluest weatherH
And in some soft and sunny solitudeO2
Couched like a milder sunshine on the heatherH
He communed with the winds and with the birdsW
As if they might have answered him in wordsW
-
XXVIL
-
Deep buried in the forest was a nookQ2
Remote and quiet as its quiet skiesW
He knew it sought it loved it as a bookQ2
Full of his own sweet thoughts and memoriesW
Dark oaks and fluted chestnuts gathering roundO2
Pillared and greenly domed a sloping moundO2
-
XXVIIL
-
Whereof white purple azure golden redO2
Confused like hues of sunset the wild flowersW
Wove a rich dais through crosslights overheadO2
Glanced the clear sunshine fell the fruitful showersW
And here the shyest bird would fold her wingsW
Here fled the fairest and the gentlest thingsW
-
XXVIIIL
-
Thither one night of mist and moonlight cameE
The youth with nothing deeper in his thoughtsW
Than to behold beneath the silver flameE
New aspects of his fair and favorite spotO2
A single ray attained the ground and shedO2
Just light enough to guide the wanderer's treadO2
-
XXIXW
-
And high and hushed arose the stately treesW

Henry Timrod



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