An Elegiac Ode.[1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH AIAI JGJG GKGK LELE GGGG| He chastens us as nations and as men | A |
| He smites us sore until our pride doth yield | B |
| And hence our heroes each with hearts for ten | A |
| Were vanquished in the field | B |
| - | |
| And stand to day beneath our Southern sun | C |
| O'erthrown in battle and despoiled of hope | D |
| Their drums all silent and their cause undone | C |
| And they all left to grope | D |
| - | |
| In darkness till God's own appointed time | E |
| In His own manner passeth fully by | F |
| Our Penance this His Parable sublime | E |
| Means we must learn to die | F |
| - | |
| Not as our soldiers died beneath their flags | G |
| Not as in tumult and in blood they fell | H |
| When from their columns clad in homely rags | G |
| Rose the Confederate yell | H |
| - | |
| Not as they died though never mortal men | A |
| Since Tubal Cain first forged his cruel blade | I |
| Fought as they fought nor ever shall agen | A |
| Such Leader be obeyed | I |
| - | |
| No not as died our knightly soldier dead | J |
| Though they I trust have found above surcease | G |
| For all life's troubles but on Christian bed | J |
| Should we depart in peace | G |
| - | |
| Falling asleep like those whose gentle deeds | G |
| Are governed through time's passions and its strife | K |
| So justly that we might erect new creeds | G |
| From each well ordered life | K |
| - | |
| Whose saintly lessons are so framed that we | L |
| May learn that pain is but a text sublime | E |
| Teaching us how to learn at Sorrow's knee | L |
| To value things of time | E |
| - | |
| Thus thinking o'er life's promise breaking dreams | G |
| Its lights and shadows made of hopes and fears | G |
| I say that Death is kinder than he seems | G |
| And not the King of Tears | G |
James Barron Hope
(1)
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