A Legend Of Service Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJK LL MMNOPPQQRRCCRRLLSSTT QQUUAAVVWWCCXXYYZA2 B2B2GGC2C2D2D2NNCCHH E2E2F2F2G2G2CC H2H2D2D2QQI2I2CCJ2J2 VVG2G2LLY K2K2

It pleased the Lord of Angels praise His nameA
To hear one day report from those who cameA
With pitying sorrow or exultant joyB
To tell of earthly tasks in His employB
For some were sorry when they saw how slowC
The stream of heavenly love on earth must flowC
And some were glad because their eyes had seenD
Along its banks fresh flowers and living greenD
So at a certain hour before the throneE
The youngest angel Asmiel stood aloneE
Nor glad nor sad but full of earnest thoughtF
And thus his tidings to the Master broughtF
Lord in the city Lupon I have foundG
Three servants of thy holy name renownedG
Above their fellows One is very wiseH
With thoughts that ever range above the skiesH
And one is gifted with the golden speechI
That makes men glad to hear when he will teachI
And one with no rare gift or grace enduedJ
Has won the people's love by doing goodK
With three such saints Lupon is trebly blestL
But Lord I fain would know which loves Thee bestL
-
Then spake the Lord of Angels to whose lookM
The hearts of all are like an open bookM
In every soul the secret thought I readN
And well I know who loves me best indeedO
But every life has pages vacant stillP
Whereon a man may write the thing he willP
Therefore I read in silence day by dayQ
And wait for hearts untaught to learn my wayQ
But thou shalt go to Lupon to the threeR
Who serve me there and take this word from meR
Tell each of them his Master bids him goC
Alone to Spiran's huts across the snowC
There he shall find a certain task for meR
But what I do not tell to them nor theeR
Give thou the message make my word the testL
And crown for me the one who answers bestL
Silent the angel stood with folded handsS
To take the imprint of his Lord's commandsS
Then drew one breath obedient and elateT
And passed the self same hour through Lupon's gateT
-
First to the Temple door he made his wayQ
And there because it was an holy dayQ
He saw the folk by thousands thronging stirredU
By ardent thirst to hear the preacher's wordU
Then while the echoes murmured Bernol's nameA
Through aisles that hushed behind him Bernol cameA
Strung to the keenest pitch of conscious mightV
With lips prepared and firm and eyes alightV
One moment at the pulpit steps he kneltW
In silent prayer and on his shoulder feltW
The angel's hand The Master bids thee goC
Alone to Spiran's huts across the snowC
To serve Him there Then Bernol's hidden faceX
Went white as death and for about the spaceX
Of ten slow heart beats there was no replyY
Till Bernol looked around and whispered WHYY
But answer to his question came there noneZ
The angel sighed and with a sigh was goneA2
-
Within the humble house where Malvin spentB2
His studious years on holy things intentB2
Sweet stillness reigned and there the angel foundG
The saintly sage immersed in thought profoundG
Weaving with patient toil and willing careC2
A web of wisdom wonderful and fairC2
A seamless robe for Truth's great bridal meetD2
And needing but one thread to be completeD2
Then Asmiel touched his hand and broke the threadN
Of fine spun thought and very gently saidN
The One of whom thou thinkest bids thee goC
Alone to Spiran's huts across the snowC
To serve Him there With sorrow and surpriseH
Malvin looked up reluctance in his eyesH
The broken thought the strangeness of the callE2
The perilous passage of the mountain wallE2
The solitary journey and the lengthF2
Of ways unknown too great for his frail strengthF2
Appalled him With a doubtful browG2
He scanned the doubtful task and muttered HOWG2
But Asmiel answered as he turned to goC
With cold disheartened voice I do not knowC
-
Now as he went with fading hope to seekH2
The third and last to whom God bade him speakH2
Scarce twenty steps away whom should he meetD2
But Fermor hurrying cheerful down the streetD2
With ready heart that faced his work like playQ
And joyed to find it greater every dayQ
The angel stopped him with uplifted handI2
And gave without delay his Lord's commandI2
He whom thou servest here would have thee goC
Alone to Spiran's huts across the snowC
To serve Him there Ere Asmiel breathed againJ2
The eager answer leaped to meet him WHENJ2
-
The angel's face with inward joy grew brightV
And all his figure glowed with heavenly lightV
He took the golden circlet from his browG2
And gave the crown to Fermor answering NowG2
For thou hast met the Master's bidden testL
And I have found the man who loves Him bestL
Not thine nor mine to question or replyY
When He commands us asking 'how ' or 'why '-
He knows the cause His ways are wise and justK2
Who serves the King must serve with perfect trustK2

Henry Van Dyke



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