By The Seaside : The Lighthouse Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ KLKL MNMN OPOP QEQE RSRS TUTU VWVW XJXJ YZY| The rocky ledge runs far into the sea | A |
| And on its outer point some miles away | B |
| The Lighthouse lifts its massive masonry | A |
| A pillar of fire by night of cloud by day | B |
| - | |
| Even at this distance I can see the tides | C |
| Upheaving break unheard along its base | D |
| A speechless wrath that rises and subsides | C |
| In the white lip and tremor of the face | D |
| - | |
| And as the evening darkens lo how bright | E |
| Through the deep purple of the twilight air | F |
| Beams forth the sudden radiance of its light | E |
| With strange unearthly splendor in the glare | F |
| - | |
| Not one alone from each projecting cape | G |
| And perilous reef along the ocean's verge | H |
| Starts into life a dim gigantic shape | G |
| Holding its lantern o'er the restless surge | H |
| - | |
| Like the great giant Christopher it stands | I |
| Upon the brink of the tempestuous wave | J |
| Wading far out among the rocks and sands | I |
| The night o'ertaken mariner to save | J |
| - | |
| And the great ships sail outward and return | K |
| Bending and bowing o'er the billowy swells | L |
| And ever joyful as they see it burn | K |
| They wave their silent welcomes and farewells | L |
| - | |
| They come forth from the darkness and their sails | M |
| Gleam for a moment only in the blaze | N |
| And eager faces as the light unveils | M |
| Gaze at the tower and vanish while they gaze | N |
| - | |
| The mariner remembers when a child | O |
| On his first voyage he saw it fade and sink | P |
| And when returning from adventures wild | O |
| He saw it rise again o'er ocean's brink | P |
| - | |
| Steadfast serene immovable the same | Q |
| Year after year through all the silent night | E |
| Burns on forevermore that quenchless flame | Q |
| Shines on that inextinguishable light | E |
| - | |
| It sees the ocean to its bosom clasp | R |
| The rocks and sea sand with the kiss of peace | S |
| It sees the wild winds lift it in their grasp | R |
| And hold it up and shake it like a fleece | S |
| - | |
| The startled waves leap over it the storm | T |
| Smites it with all the scourges of the rain | U |
| And steadily against its solid form | T |
| Press the great shoulders of the hurricane | U |
| - | |
| The sea bird wheeling round it with the din | V |
| Of wings and winds and solitary cries | W |
| Blinded and maddened by the light within | V |
| Dashes himself against the glare and dies | W |
| - | |
| A new Prometheus chained upon the rock | X |
| Still grasping in his hand the fire of Jove | J |
| It does not hear the cry nor heed the shock | X |
| But hails the mariner with words of love | J |
| - | |
| 'Sail on ' it says 'sail on ye stately ships | Y |
| And with your floating bridge the ocean span | Z |
| Be mine to guard this light from all eclipse | Y |
| Be yours to bring man nearer unto man ' | - |
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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