A Legend Of Service Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJK LL MMNOPPQQRRCCRRLLSSTT QQUUAAVVWWCCXXYYZA2 B2B2GGC2C2D2D2NNCCHH E2E2F2F2G2G2CC H2H2D2D2QQI2I2CCJ2J2 VVG2G2LLY K2K2It pleased the Lord of Angels praise His name | A |
To hear one day report from those who came | A |
With pitying sorrow or exultant joy | B |
To tell of earthly tasks in His employ | B |
For some were sorry when they saw how slow | C |
The stream of heavenly love on earth must flow | C |
And some were glad because their eyes had seen | D |
Along its banks fresh flowers and living green | D |
So at a certain hour before the throne | E |
The youngest angel Asmiel stood alone | E |
Nor glad nor sad but full of earnest thought | F |
And thus his tidings to the Master brought | F |
Lord in the city Lupon I have found | G |
Three servants of thy holy name renowned | G |
Above their fellows One is very wise | H |
With thoughts that ever range above the skies | H |
And one is gifted with the golden speech | I |
That makes men glad to hear when he will teach | I |
And one with no rare gift or grace endued | J |
Has won the people's love by doing good | K |
With three such saints Lupon is trebly blest | L |
But Lord I fain would know which loves Thee best | L |
- | |
Then spake the Lord of Angels to whose look | M |
The hearts of all are like an open book | M |
In every soul the secret thought I read | N |
And well I know who loves me best indeed | O |
But every life has pages vacant still | P |
Whereon a man may write the thing he will | P |
Therefore I read in silence day by day | Q |
And wait for hearts untaught to learn my way | Q |
But thou shalt go to Lupon to the three | R |
Who serve me there and take this word from me | R |
Tell each of them his Master bids him go | C |
Alone to Spiran's huts across the snow | C |
There he shall find a certain task for me | R |
But what I do not tell to them nor thee | R |
Give thou the message make my word the test | L |
And crown for me the one who answers best | L |
Silent the angel stood with folded hands | S |
To take the imprint of his Lord's commands | S |
Then drew one breath obedient and elate | T |
And passed the self same hour through Lupon's gate | T |
- | |
First to the Temple door he made his way | Q |
And there because it was an holy day | Q |
He saw the folk by thousands thronging stirred | U |
By ardent thirst to hear the preacher's word | U |
Then while the echoes murmured Bernol's name | A |
Through aisles that hushed behind him Bernol came | A |
Strung to the keenest pitch of conscious might | V |
With lips prepared and firm and eyes alight | V |
One moment at the pulpit steps he knelt | W |
In silent prayer and on his shoulder felt | W |
The angel's hand The Master bids thee go | C |
Alone to Spiran's huts across the snow | C |
To serve Him there Then Bernol's hidden face | X |
Went white as death and for about the space | X |
Of ten slow heart beats there was no reply | Y |
Till Bernol looked around and whispered WHY | Y |
But answer to his question came there none | Z |
The angel sighed and with a sigh was gone | A2 |
- | |
Within the humble house where Malvin spent | B2 |
His studious years on holy things intent | B2 |
Sweet stillness reigned and there the angel found | G |
The saintly sage immersed in thought profound | G |
Weaving with patient toil and willing care | C2 |
A web of wisdom wonderful and fair | C2 |
A seamless robe for Truth's great bridal meet | D2 |
And needing but one thread to be complete | D2 |
Then Asmiel touched his hand and broke the thread | N |
Of fine spun thought and very gently said | N |
The One of whom thou thinkest bids thee go | C |
Alone to Spiran's huts across the snow | C |
To serve Him there With sorrow and surprise | H |
Malvin looked up reluctance in his eyes | H |
The broken thought the strangeness of the call | E2 |
The perilous passage of the mountain wall | E2 |
The solitary journey and the length | F2 |
Of ways unknown too great for his frail strength | F2 |
Appalled him With a doubtful brow | G2 |
He scanned the doubtful task and muttered HOW | G2 |
But Asmiel answered as he turned to go | C |
With cold disheartened voice I do not know | C |
- | |
Now as he went with fading hope to seek | H2 |
The third and last to whom God bade him speak | H2 |
Scarce twenty steps away whom should he meet | D2 |
But Fermor hurrying cheerful down the street | D2 |
With ready heart that faced his work like play | Q |
And joyed to find it greater every day | Q |
The angel stopped him with uplifted hand | I2 |
And gave without delay his Lord's command | I2 |
He whom thou servest here would have thee go | C |
Alone to Spiran's huts across the snow | C |
To serve Him there Ere Asmiel breathed again | J2 |
The eager answer leaped to meet him WHEN | J2 |
- | |
The angel's face with inward joy grew bright | V |
And all his figure glowed with heavenly light | V |
He took the golden circlet from his brow | G2 |
And gave the crown to Fermor answering Now | G2 |
For thou hast met the Master's bidden test | L |
And I have found the man who loves Him best | L |
Not thine nor mine to question or reply | Y |
When He commands us asking 'how ' or 'why ' | - |
He knows the cause His ways are wise and just | K2 |
Who serves the King must serve with perfect trust | K2 |
Henry Van Dyke
(1)
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