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 KHKKK

Pleasant it was when woods were greenA
And winds were soft and lowB
To lie amid some sylvan sceneA
Where the long drooping boughs betweenA
Shadows dark and sunlight sheenA
Alternate come and goB
-
Or where the denser grove receivesC
No sunlight from aboveD
But the dark foliage interweavesC
In one unbroken roof of leavesC
Underneath whose sloping eavesC
The shadows hardly moveE
-
Beneath some patriarchal treeF
I lay upon the groundG
His hoary arms uplifted heF
And all the broad leaves over meF
Clapped their little hands in gleeF
With one continuous soundG
-
A slumberous sound a sound that bringsC
The feelings of a dreamH
As of innumerable wingsC
As when a bell no longer swingsC
Faint the hollow murmur ringsC
O'er meadow lake and streamH
-
And dreams of that which cannot dieI
Bright visins came to meF
As lapped in thought I used to lieI
And gaze into the summer skyI
Where the sailing clouds went byI
Like ships upon the seaF
-
Dreams that the soul of youth engageJ
Ere Fancy has been quelledK
Old legends of the monkish pageJ
Traditions of the saint and sageJ
Tales that have the rime of ageJ
And chronicles of EldK
-
And loving still these quaint old themesC
Even in the city's throngL
I feel the freshness of the streamsC
That crossed by shades and sunny gleamsC
Water the green land of dreamsC
The holy land of songL
-
Therefore at Pentecost which bringsC
The Spring clothed like a brideK
When nestling buds unfold their wingsC
And bishop's caps have golden ringsC
Musing upon many thingsC
I sought the woodlands wideK
-
The green trees whispered low and mildK
It was a sound of joyM
They were my playmates when a childK
And rocked me in their arms so wildK
Still they looked at me and smiledK
As if I were a boyM
-
And ever whispered mild and lowB
'Come be a child once more '-
And waved their long arms to and froB
And beckoned solemnly and slowB
O I could not choose but goB
Into the woodlands hoarN
-
Into the blithe and breathing airO
Into the solemn woodK
Solemn and silent everywhereO
Nature with folded hands seemed thereO
Kneeling at her evening prayerO
Like one in prayer I stoodK
-
Before me rose an avenueP
Of tall and sombrous pinesC
Abroad their fan like branches grewP
And where the sunshine darted throughtK
Spread a vapor soft and blueP
In long and sloping linesC
-
And falling on my weary brainQ
Like a fast falling showerR
The dreams of youth came back againS
Low lispings of the summer rainQ
Dropping on the ripened grainQ
As once upon the flowerR
-
Visions of childhood Stay O stayK
Ye were so sweet and wildK
And distant voices seemed to sayK
'It cannot be They pass awayK
Other themes demand thy layK
Thou art no more a childK
-
'The land of Song within thee liesC
Watered by living springsC
The lids of Fancy's sleepless eyesC
Are gates unto that ParadiseC
Holy thoughts like stars ariseC
Its clouds are angels' wingsC
-
'Learn that henceforth thy song shall beF
Not mountains capped with snowB
Nor forests sounding like the seaF
Nor rivers flowing ceaselesslyF
Where the woodlands bend to seeF
The bending heavens belowB
-
'There is a forest where the dinT
Of iron branches soundsC
A mighty river roara betweenA
And whosoever looks thereinT
Sees the heavens all black with sinT
Sees not ita depths nor boundsC
-
'Athwart the swinging branches castK
Soft rays of sunshine pourN
Then comes the fearful wintry blastK
Our hopes like withered leaves fall fastK
Pallid lips say 'It is pastK
We can return no more '-
-
'Look then into thine heart and writeK
Yes into Life's deep streamH
All forms of sorrow and delightK
All solemn Voices of the NightK
That can soothe thee or affrightK
Be these henceforth thy theme '-

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



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