Voices Of The Night : Prelude Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAAAB CDCCCE FGFFFG CHCCCH IFIIIF JKJJJK CLCCCL CKCCCK KMKKKM B BBBN OKOOOK PCPKPC QRSQQR KKKKKK CCCCCC FBFFFB TCATTC KNKKK KHKKKPleasant it was when woods were green | A |
And winds were soft and low | B |
To lie amid some sylvan scene | A |
Where the long drooping boughs between | A |
Shadows dark and sunlight sheen | A |
Alternate come and go | B |
- | |
Or where the denser grove receives | C |
No sunlight from above | D |
But the dark foliage interweaves | C |
In one unbroken roof of leaves | C |
Underneath whose sloping eaves | C |
The shadows hardly move | E |
- | |
Beneath some patriarchal tree | F |
I lay upon the ground | G |
His hoary arms uplifted he | F |
And all the broad leaves over me | F |
Clapped their little hands in glee | F |
With one continuous sound | G |
- | |
A slumberous sound a sound that brings | C |
The feelings of a dream | H |
As of innumerable wings | C |
As when a bell no longer swings | C |
Faint the hollow murmur rings | C |
O'er meadow lake and stream | H |
- | |
And dreams of that which cannot die | I |
Bright visins came to me | F |
As lapped in thought I used to lie | I |
And gaze into the summer sky | I |
Where the sailing clouds went by | I |
Like ships upon the sea | F |
- | |
Dreams that the soul of youth engage | J |
Ere Fancy has been quelled | K |
Old legends of the monkish page | J |
Traditions of the saint and sage | J |
Tales that have the rime of age | J |
And chronicles of Eld | K |
- | |
And loving still these quaint old themes | C |
Even in the city's throng | L |
I feel the freshness of the streams | C |
That crossed by shades and sunny gleams | C |
Water the green land of dreams | C |
The holy land of song | L |
- | |
Therefore at Pentecost which brings | C |
The Spring clothed like a bride | K |
When nestling buds unfold their wings | C |
And bishop's caps have golden rings | C |
Musing upon many things | C |
I sought the woodlands wide | K |
- | |
The green trees whispered low and mild | K |
It was a sound of joy | M |
They were my playmates when a child | K |
And rocked me in their arms so wild | K |
Still they looked at me and smiled | K |
As if I were a boy | M |
- | |
And ever whispered mild and low | B |
'Come be a child once more ' | - |
And waved their long arms to and fro | B |
And beckoned solemnly and slow | B |
O I could not choose but go | B |
Into the woodlands hoar | N |
- | |
Into the blithe and breathing air | O |
Into the solemn wood | K |
Solemn and silent everywhere | O |
Nature with folded hands seemed there | O |
Kneeling at her evening prayer | O |
Like one in prayer I stood | K |
- | |
Before me rose an avenue | P |
Of tall and sombrous pines | C |
Abroad their fan like branches grew | P |
And where the sunshine darted throught | K |
Spread a vapor soft and blue | P |
In long and sloping lines | C |
- | |
And falling on my weary brain | Q |
Like a fast falling shower | R |
The dreams of youth came back again | S |
Low lispings of the summer rain | Q |
Dropping on the ripened grain | Q |
As once upon the flower | R |
- | |
Visions of childhood Stay O stay | K |
Ye were so sweet and wild | K |
And distant voices seemed to say | K |
'It cannot be They pass away | K |
Other themes demand thy lay | K |
Thou art no more a child | K |
- | |
'The land of Song within thee lies | C |
Watered by living springs | C |
The lids of Fancy's sleepless eyes | C |
Are gates unto that Paradise | C |
Holy thoughts like stars arise | C |
Its clouds are angels' wings | C |
- | |
'Learn that henceforth thy song shall be | F |
Not mountains capped with snow | B |
Nor forests sounding like the sea | F |
Nor rivers flowing ceaselessly | F |
Where the woodlands bend to see | F |
The bending heavens below | B |
- | |
'There is a forest where the din | T |
Of iron branches sounds | C |
A mighty river roara between | A |
And whosoever looks therein | T |
Sees the heavens all black with sin | T |
Sees not ita depths nor bounds | C |
- | |
'Athwart the swinging branches cast | K |
Soft rays of sunshine pour | N |
Then comes the fearful wintry blast | K |
Our hopes like withered leaves fall fast | K |
Pallid lips say 'It is past | K |
We can return no more ' | - |
- | |
'Look then into thine heart and write | K |
Yes into Life's deep stream | H |
All forms of sorrow and delight | K |
All solemn Voices of the Night | K |
That can soothe thee or affright | K |
Be these henceforth thy theme ' | - |
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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