The Song Of Hiawatha Viii: Hiawatha's Fishing Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABBBACDEBDAFBGAAEBDC HADCAACBIJBAKLDMBNAN EDBEAABOBBBBBOABEBPD QQROESRRBATEUQABVQHO ASAGSBODGEWBRRBRRRAB WSVGWODGAERWBABBBWWX WEYEBRRBDRBARBAWBEBA SGAREWARAEVBAOABWRES RRSDDSDAARDDBOARRABS SBRRORBBASSBEABRRARA AQARRRSWDWRROWSBRBWR REBWRRRRWWRZ

Forth upon the Gitche GumeeA
On the shining Big Sea WaterB
With his fishing line of cedarB
Of the twisted bark of cedarB
Forth to catch the sturgeon NahmaA
Mishe Nahma King of FishesC
In his birch canoe exultingD
All alone went HiawathaE
Through the clear transparent waterB
He could see the fishes swimmingD
Far down in the depths below himA
See the yellow perch the SahwaF
Like a sunbeam in the waterB
See the Shawgashee the craw fishG
Like a spider on the bottomA
On the white and sandy bottomA
At the stern sat HiawathaE
With his fishing line of cedarB
In his plumes the breeze of morningD
Played as in the hemlock branchesC
On the bows with tail erectedH
Sat the squirrel AdjidaumoA
In his fur the breeze of morningD
Played as in the prairie grassesC
On the white sand of the bottomA
Lay the monster Mishe NahmaA
Lay the sturgeon King of FishesC
Through his gills he breathed the waterB
With his fins he fanned and winnowedI
With his tail he swept the sand floorJ
There he lay in all his armorB
On each side a shield to guard himA
Plates of bone upon his foreheadK
Down his sides and back and shouldersL
Plates of bone with spines projectingD
Painted was he with his war paintsM
Stripes of yellow red and azureB
Spots of brown and spots of sableN
And he lay there on the bottomA
Fanning with his fins of purpleN
As above him HiawathaE
In his birch canoe came sailingD
With his fishing line of cedarB
'Take my bait ' cried HiawathaE
Dawn into the depths beneath himA
'Take my bait O Sturgeon NahmaA
Come up from below the waterB
Let us see which is the stronger 'O
And he dropped his line of cedarB
Through the clear transparent waterB
Waited vainly for an answerB
Long sat waiting for an answerB
And repeating loud and louderB
'Take my bait O King of Fishes 'O
Quiet lay the sturgeon NahmaA
Fanning slowly in the waterB
Looking up at HiawathaE
Listening to his call and clamorB
His unnecessary tumultP
Till he wearied of the shoutingD
And he said to the KenozhaQ
To the pike the MaskenozhaQ
'Take the bait of this rude fellowR
Break the line of Hiawatha 'O
In his fingers HiawathaE
Felt the loose line jerk and tightenS
As he drew it in it tugged soR
That the birch canoe stood endwiseR
Like a birch log in the waterB
With the squirrel AdjidaumoA
Perched and frisking on the summitT
Full of scorn was HiawathaE
When he saw the fish rise upwardU
Saw the pike the MaskenozhaQ
Coming nearer nearer to himA
And he shouted through the waterB
'Esa esa shame upon youV
You are but the pike KenozhaQ
You are not the fish I wantedH
You are not the King of Fishes 'O
Reeling downward to the bottomA
Sank the pike in great confusionS
And the mighty sturgeon NahmaA
Said to Ugudwash the sun fishG
To the bream with scales of crimsonS
'Take the bait of this great boasterB
Break the line of Hiawatha 'O
Slowly upward wavering gleamingD
Rose the Ugudwash the sun fishG
Seized the line of HiawathaE
Swung with all his weight upon itW
Made a whirlpool in the waterB
Whirled the birch canoe in circlesR
Round and round in gurgling eddiesR
Till the circles in the waterB
Reached the far off sandy beachesR
Till the water flags and rushesR
Nodded on the distant marginsR
But when Hiawatha saw himA
Slowly rising through the waterB
Lifting up his disk refulgentW
Loud he shouted in derisionS
'Esa esa shame upon youV
You are Ugudwash the sun fishG
You are not the fish I wantedW
You are not the King of Fishes 'O
Slowly downward wavering gleamingD
Sank the Ugudwash the sun fishG
And again the sturgeon NahmaA
Heard the shout of HiawathaE
Heard his challenge of defianceR
The unnecessary tumultW
Ringing far across the waterB
From the white sand of the bottomA
Up he rose with angry gestureB
Quivering in each nerve and fibreB
Clashing all his plates of armorB
Gleaming bright with all his war paintW
In his wrath he darted upwardW
Flashing leaped into the sunshineX
Opened his great jaws and swallowedW
Both canoe and HiawathaE
Down into that darksome cavernY
Plunged the headlong HiawathaE
As a log on some black riverB
Shoots and plunges down the rapidsR
Found himself in utter darknessR
Groped about in helpless wonderB
Till he felt a great heart beatingD
Throbbing in that utter darknessR
And he smote it in his angerB
With his fist the heart of NahmaA
Felt the mighty King of FishesR
Shudder through each nerve and fibreB
Heard the water gurgle round himA
As he leaped and staggered through itW
Sick at heart and faint and wearyB
Crosswise then did HiawathaE
Drag his birch canoe for safetyB
Lest from out the jaws of NahmaA
In the turmoil and confusionS
Forth he might be hurled and perishG
And the squirrel AdjidaumoA
Frisked and chatted very gaylyR
Toiled and tugged with HiawathaE
Till the labor was completedW
Then said Hiawatha to himA
'O my little friend the squirrelR
Bravely have you toiled to help meA
Take the thanks of HiawathaE
And the name which now he gives youV
For hereafter and foreverB
Boys shall call you AdjidaumoA
Tail in air the boys shall call you 'O
And again the sturgeon NahmaA
Gasped and quivered in the waterB
Then was still and drifted landwardW
Till he grated on the pebblesR
Till the listening HiawathaE
Heard him grate upon the marginS
Felt him strand upon the pebblesR
Knew that Nahma King of FishesR
Lay there dead upon the marginS
Then he heard a clang and flappingD
As of many wings assemblingD
Heard a screaming and confusionS
As of birds of prey contendingD
Saw a gleam of light above himA
Shining through the ribs of NahmaA
Saw the glittering eyes of sea gullsR
Of Kayoshk the sea gulls peeringD
Gazing at him through the openingD
Heard them saying to each otherB
''T is our brother Hiawatha 'O
And he shouted from below themA
Cried exulting from the cavernsR
'O ye sea gulls O my brothersR
I have slain the sturgeon NahmaA
Make the rifts a little largerB
With your claws the openings widenS
Set me free from this dark prisonS
And henceforward and foreverB
Men shall speak of your achievementsR
Calling you Kayoshk the sea gullsR
Yes Kayoshk the Noble Scratchers 'O
And the wild and clamorous sea gullsR
Toiled with beak and claws togetherB
Made the rifts and openings widerB
In the mighty ribs of NahmaA
And from peril and from prisonS
From the body of the sturgeonS
From the peril of the waterB
They released my HiawathaE
He was standing near his wigwamA
On the margin of the waterB
And he called to old NokomisR
Called and beckoned to NokomisR
Pointed to the sturgeon NahmaA
Lying lifeless on the pebblesR
With the sea gulls feeding on himA
'I have slain the Mishe NahmaA
Slain the King of Fishes ' said he'Q
'Look the sea gulls feed upon himA
Yes my friends Kayoshk the sea gullsR
Drive them not away NokomisR
They have saved me from great perilR
In the body of the sturgeonS
Wait until their meal is endedW
Till their craws are full with feastingD
Till they homeward fly at sunsetW
To their nests among the marshesR
Then bring all your pots and kettlesR
And make oil for us in Winter 'O
And she waited till the sun setW
Till the pallid moon the Night sunS
Rose above the tranquil waterB
Till Kayoshk the sated sea gullsR
From their banquet rose with clamorB
And across the fiery sunsetW
Winged their way to far off islandsR
To their nests among the rushesR
To his sleep went HiawathaE
And Nokomis to her laborB
Toiling patient in the moonlightW
Till the sun and moon changed placesR
Till the sky was red with sunriseR
And Kayoshk the hungry sea gullsR
Came back from the reedy islandsR
Clamorous for their morning banquetW
Three whole days and nights alternateW
Old Nokomis and the sea gullsR
Stripped the oily flesh of NaZ

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about The Song Of Hiawatha Viii: Hiawatha's Fishing poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


 
Best Poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 2 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets