The White Witch Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBAB DCECFC GAHAIA FCJCKC LMNMOM PALAQA RSMSTS UVWVCV CXYXZX ABABAB

O brothers mine take care Take careA
The great white witch rides out to nightB
Trust not your prowess nor your strengthC
Your only safety lies in flightB
For in her glance there is a snareA
And in her smile there is a blightB
-
The great white witch you have not seenD
Then younger brothers mine forsoothC
Like nursery children you have lookedE
For ancient hag and snaggled toothC
But no not so the witch appearsF
In all the glowing charms of youthC
-
Her lips are like carnations redG
Her face like new born lilies fairA
Her eyes like ocean waters blueH
She moves with subtle grace and airA
And all about her head there floatsI
The golden glory of her hairA
-
But though she always thus appearsF
In form of youth and mood of mirthC
Unnumbered centuries are hersJ
The infant planets saw her birthC
The child of throbbing Life is sheK
Twin sister to the greedy earthC
-
And back behind those smiling lipsL
And down within those laughing eyesM
And underneath the soft caressN
Of hand and voice and purring sighsM
The shadow of the panther lurksO
The spirit of the vampire liesM
-
For I have seen the great white witchP
And she has led me to her lairA
And I have kissed her red red lipsL
And cruel face so white and fairA
Around me she has twined her armsQ
And bound me with her yellow hairA
-
I felt those red lips burn and searR
My body like a living coalS
Obeyed the power of those eyesM
As the needle trembles to the poleS
And did not care although I feltT
The strength go ebbing from my soulS
-
Oh she has seen your strong young limbsU
And heard your laughter loud and gayV
And in your voices she has caughtW
The echo of a far off dayV
When man was closer to the earthC
And she has marked you for her preyV
-
She feels the old Antaean strengthC
In you the great dynamic beatX
Of primal passions and she seesY
In you the last besieged retreatX
Of love relentless lusty fierceZ
Love pain ecstatic cruel sweetX
-
O brothers mine take care Take careA
The great white witch rides out to nightB
O younger brothers mine bewareA
Look not upon her beauty brightB
For in her glance there is a snareA
And in her smile there is a blightB

James Weldon Johnson



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