America Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCCDDEDFGF AHIJIKKLM ANOPOQQRCRCSFSR T TU VVWRXRXYRRY| I | A |
| Where the wings of a sunny Dome expand | B |
| I saw a Banner in gladsome air | C |
| Starry like Berenice's Hair | C |
| Afloat in broadened bravery there | C |
| With undulating long drawn flow | D |
| As tolled Brazilian billows go | D |
| Voluminously o'er the Line | E |
| The Land reposed in peace below | D |
| The children in their glee | F |
| Were folded to the exulting heart | G |
| Of young Maternity | F |
| - | |
| II | A |
| Later and it streamed in fight | H |
| When tempest mingled with the fray | I |
| And over the spear point of the shaft | J |
| I saw the ambiguous lightning play | I |
| Valor with Valor strove and died | K |
| Fierce was Despair and cruel was Pride | K |
| And the lorn Mother speechless stood | L |
| Pale at the fury of her brood | M |
| - | |
| III | A |
| Yet later and the silk did wind | N |
| Her fair cold form | O |
| Little availed the shining shroud | P |
| Though ruddy in hue to cheer or warm | O |
| A watcher looked upon her low and said | Q |
| She sleeps but sleeps she is not dead | Q |
| But in that sleeps contortion showed | R |
| The terror of the vision there | C |
| A silent vision unavowed | R |
| Revealing earth's foundation bare | C |
| And Gorgon in her hidden place | S |
| It was a thing of fear to see | F |
| So foul a dream upon so fair a face | S |
| And the dreamer lying in that starry shroud | R |
| - | |
| IV | - |
| But from the trance she sudden broke | T |
| The trance or death into promoted life | - |
| At her feet a shivered yoke | T |
| And in her aspect turned to heaven | U |
| No trace of passion or of strife | - |
| A clear calm look It spake of pain | V |
| But such as purifies from stain | V |
| Sharp pangs that never come again | W |
| And triumph repressed by knowledge meet | R |
| Power dedicate and hope grown wise | X |
| And youth matured for age's seat | R |
| Law on her brow and empire in her eyes | X |
| So she with graver air and lifted flag | Y |
| While the shadow chased by light | R |
| Fled along the far drawn height | R |
| And left her on the crag | Y |
Herman Melville
(1)
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