The Cumberland Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACCB DEDDDE DFDGGF HIHJJI DKDLLM NONGGO ALAPPL DQDKMQAt anchor in Hampton Roads we lay | A |
On board of the Cumberland sloop of war | B |
And at times from the fortress across the bay | A |
The alarum of drums swept past | C |
Or a bugle blast | C |
From the camp on the shore | B |
- | |
Then far away to the south uprose | D |
A little feather of snow white smoke | E |
And we knew that the iron ship of our foes | D |
Was steadily steering its course | D |
To try the force | D |
Of our ribs of oak | E |
- | |
Down upon us heavily runs | D |
Silent and sullen the floating fort | F |
Then comes a puff of smoke from her guns | D |
And leaps the terrible death | G |
With fiery breath | G |
From each open port | F |
- | |
We are not idle but send her straight | H |
Defiance back in a full broadside | I |
As hail rebounds from a roof of slate | H |
Rebounds our heavier hail | J |
From each iron scale | J |
Of the monster's hide | I |
- | |
Strike your flag the rebel cries | D |
In his arrogant old plantation strain | K |
Never our gallant Morris replies | D |
It is better to sink than to yield | L |
And the whole air pealed | L |
With the cheers of our men | M |
- | |
Then like a kraken huge and black | N |
She crushed our ribs in her iron grasp | O |
Down went the Cumberland all a wrack | N |
With a sudden shudder of death | G |
And the cannon's breath | G |
For her dying gasp | O |
- | |
Next morn as the sun rose over the bay | A |
Still floated our flag at the mainmast head | L |
Lord how beautiful was Thy day | A |
Every waft of the air | P |
Was a whisper of prayer | P |
Or a dirge for the dead | L |
- | |
Ho brave hearts that went down in the seas | D |
Ye are at peace in the troubled stream | Q |
Ho brave land with hearts like these | D |
Thy flag that is rent in twain | K |
Shall be one again | M |
And without a seam | Q |
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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