Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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The Slave In The Dismal Swamp Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCB DEDDE FGFFG HIHHI GJGGJ KLKKL

In dark fens of the Dismal SwampA
The hunted Negro layB
He saw the fire of the midnight campC
And heard at times a horse's trampC
And a bloodhound's distant bayB
-
Where will o' the wisps and glow worms shineD
In bulrush and in brakeE
Where waving mosses shroud the pineD
And the cedar grows and the poisonous vineD
Is spotted like the snakeE
-
Where hardly a human foot could passF
Or a human heart would dareG
On the quaking turf of the green morassF
He crouched in the rank and tangled grassF
Like a wild beast in his lairG
-
A poor old slave infirm and lameH
Great scars deformed his faceI
On his forehead he bore the brand of shameH
And the rags that hid his mangled frameH
Were the livery of disgraceI
-
All things above were bright and fairG
All things were glad and freeJ
Lithe squirrels darted here and thereG
And wild birds filled the echoing airG
With songs of LibertyJ
-
On him alone was the doom of painK
From the morning of his birthL
On him alone the curse of CainK
Fell like a flail on the garnered grainK
And struck him to the earthL

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



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