Brothers, And A Sermon Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDECFGCH CCCBIJBCKLMJMCNO PCCBLMCQRCSTUAVWCCXY ZA2JB2BC2C MSVD2JCE2JF2G2H2CA2D I2A2CCCCA2JMCJMJ2JA2 CK2L2M2N2D2A2I2A2CA2 A2A2A2O2 CP2CP2JQ2JG2 R2MR2MA2CA2C CMCMKL2KS2 T2JT2JU2BU2B V2S2A2JW2J T2 JKX2G2M2CJA2MA2BCCA2 A2Y2A2A2Z2A2A2KX2BKJ A3MCCA2KA2X2CCBA2M2A 2CCB3CA2 A2A2MS2 A2A2A2A2A2A2 CA2CA2CA2 KMKMKM HCHCHC ML2A2JA2A2A2A2I2D2JZ 2A2A2CJ A2D2CKS2 O2M2Y2O2A2A2C A2HBMBCCA2A2A2C CBZ2C I2HCC3A2CA2HD3JE3DA2 A2P2CCCA2MP2A2 I2A2 A2 BI2M K I2A2A2HHCA2U2F3M2CKD 2G3D2KH3KA2 A2BA2CCCMCA2A2O2I3JB A2 JA2J3K O2CA2A2A3A2A2A2I2A2 A2DKWKC A2G2K3K2 A2A2 KL3KCA2TKCA2A2C M3JT2M3N3CCCOCU2A2CC O3COCA2CMA2A2CA2CA2U 2HA2A2CKA2CCA2J A2CA2OK A2A2G2P3A2CCA3A2A2 CMA2A2 A2A2CKOJMD3A2CCJA2C A2O2MQ3CCP2M2MCE3A2M 2MR3A2CMA2MI2O2 CS3CCCMT3CKCOCCA2A2A 2O2A2A2M2KU3CCA2 A2CCCD2CM2A2V3CFA2HJ JCP2DA2A2KA2W3CJA2KJ CC MCDHA2CKCS2A2 A2CMA2A2D2JA2CMCA2A2 M2 O2JA2CKA2 CCCCD2CCA2JCCA2C G2OCG2O2JA2X3CCMKC3K DCA2D2 KCCCCA2A2CCO3A2MC I2CCA2CK2A2KS2KA2CA2 CCK3KDG2CA2A2P3KCCCA 2JA2CJCJA3A2CCA2CCA2 MA2A2CC3M2MA2A2KCJCA 2D2A2A2CCCA2A2A2A2A2 CN3A2MM2I2JCA2M2P2MA 2CA2 JCD3D2A2JA2A2MA2K3O2 MCA2C G2MI2A2CA2DC CCOK3P2K3P2CMM2CMG2C CKX2KMMCKA2A2JCOOCA2 CY3CA2A2 KS2M2KKCX2A2Y2Q3A2CS 2MCL2CA2A2 DA2A2JCA2A2 A2A2A2J MOA2A2KCA2A2L3CCCA2C D2G2CD2CU3OJA2D2L2D2 I2T2JA2JCJL2A2A2A2Z3 CC

It was a village built in a green rent	A
Between two cliffs that skirt the dangerous bay	B
A reef of level rock runs out to sea	C
And you may lie on it and look sheer down	D
Just where the Grace of Sunderland was lost	E
And see the elastic banners of the dulse	C
Rock softly and the orange star fish creep	F
Across the laver and the mackerel shoot	G
Over and under it like silver boats	C
Turning at will and plying under water	H
	-
There on that reef we lay upon our breasts	C
My brother and I and half the village lads	C
For an old fisherman had called to us	C
With Sirs the syle be come And what are they	B
My brother said Good lack the old man cried	I
And shook his head To think you gentlefolk	J
Should ask what syle be Look you I can't say	B
What syle be called in your fine dictionaries	C
Nor what name God Almighty calls them by	K
When their food's ready and He sends them south	L
But our folk call them syle and nought but syle	M
And when they're grown why then we call them herring	J
I tell you Sir the water is as full	M
Of them as pastures be of blades of grass	C
You'll draw a score out in a landing net	N
And none of them be longer than a pin	O
	-
Syle ay indeed we should be badly off	P
I reckon and so would God Almighty's gulls	C
He grumbled on in his quaint piety	C
And all His other birds if He should say	B
I will not drive my syle into the south	L
The fisher folk may do without my syle	M
And do without the shoals of fish it draws	C
To follow and feed on it	Q
This said we made	R
Our peace with him by means of two small coins	C
And down we ran and lay upon the reef	S
And saw the swimming infants emerald green	T
In separate shoals the scarcely turning ebb	U
Bringing them in while sleek and not intent	A
On chase but taking that which came to hand	V
The full fed mackerel and the gurnet swam	W
Between and settling on the polished sea	C
A thousand snow white gulls sat lovingly	C
In social rings and twittered while they fed	X
The village dogs and ours elate and brave	Y
Lay looking over barking at the fish	Z
Fast fast the silver creatures took the bait	A2
And when they heaved and floundered on the rock	J
In beauteous misery a sudden pat	B2
Some shaggy pup would deal then back away	B
At distance eye them with sagacious doubt	C2
And shrink half frighted from the slippery things	C
	-
And so we lay from ebb tide till the flow	M
Rose high enough to drive us from the reef	S
The fisher lads went home across the sand	V
We climbed the cliff and sat an hour or more	D2
Talking and looking down It was not talk	J
Of much significance except for this	C
That we had more in common than of old	E2
For both were tired I with overwork	J
He with inaction I was glad at heart	F2
To rest and he was glad to have an ear	G2
That he could grumble to and half in jest	H2
Rail at entails deplore the fate of heirs	C
And the misfortune of a good estate	A2
Misfortune that was sure to pull him down	D
Make him a dreamy selfish useless man	I2
Indeed he felt himself deteriorate	A2
Already Thereupon he sent down showers	C
Of clattering stones to emphasize his words	C
And leap the cliffs and tumble noisily	C
Into the seething wave And as for me	C
I railed at him and at ingratitude	A2
While rifling of the basket he had slung	J
Across his shoulders then with right good will	M
We fell to work and feasted like the gods	C
Like laborers or like eager workhouse folk	J
At Yuletide dinner or to say the whole	M
At once like tired hungry healthy youth	J2
Until the meal being o'er the tilted flask	J
Drained of its latest drop the meat and bread	A2
And ruddy cherries eaten and the dogs	C
Mumbling the bones this elder brother of mine	K2
This man that never felt an ache or pain	L2
In his broad well knit frame and never knew	M2
The trouble of an unforgiven grudge	N2
The sting of a regretted meanness nor	D2
The desperate struggle of the unendowed	A2
For place and for possession he began	I2
To sing a rhyme that he himself had wrought	A2
Sending it out with cogitative pause	C
As if the scene where he had shaped it first	A2
Had rolled it back on him and meeting it	A2
Thus unaware he was of doubtful mind	A2
Whether his dignity it well beseemed	A2
To sing of pretty maiden	O2
	-
Goldilocks sat on the grass	C
Tying up of posies rare	P2
Hardly could a sunbeam pass	C
Through the cloud that was her hair	P2
Purple orchis lasteth long	J
Primrose flowers are pale and clear	Q2
O the maiden sang a song	J
It would do you good to hear	G2
	-
Sad before her leaned the boy	R2
Goldilocks that I love well	M
Happy creature fair and coy	R2
Think o' me sweet Amabel	M
Goldilocks she shook apart	A2
Looked with doubtful doubtful eyes	C
Like a blossom in her heart	A2
Opened out her first surprise	C
	-
As a gloriole sign o' grace	C
Goldilocks ah fall and flow	M
On the blooming childlike face	C
Dimple dimple come and go	M
Give her time on grass and sky	K
Let her gaze if she be fain	L2
As they looked ere he drew nigh	K
They will never look again	S2
	-
Ah the playtime she has known	T2
While her goldilocks grew long	J
Is it like a nestling flown	T2
Childhood over like a song	J
Yes the boy may clear his brow	U2
Though she thinks to say him nay	B
When she sighs I cannot now	U2
Come again some other day	B
	-
Hold there he cried half angry with himself	V2
That ending goes amiss then turned again	S2
To the old argument that we had held	A2
Now look you said my brother You may talk	J
Till weary of the talk I answer 'Ay	W2
There's reason in your words ' and you may talk	J
Till I go on to say 'This should be so '	-
And you may talk till I shall further own	T2
'It is so yes I am a lucky dog '	-
Yet not the less shall I next morning wake	J
And with a natural and fervent sigh	K
Such as you never heaved I shall exclaim	X2
'What an unlucky dog I am ' And here	G2
He broke into a laugh But as for you	M2
You on all hands you have the best of me	C
Men have not robbed you of your birthright work	J
Nor ravaged in old days a peaceful field	A2
Nor wedded heiresses against their will	M
Nor sinned nor slaved nor stooped nor overreached	A2
That you might drone a useless life away	B
'Mid half a score of bleak and barren farms	C
And half a dozen bogs	C
O rare I cried	A2
His wrongs go nigh to make him eloquent	A2
Now we behold how far bad actions reach	Y2
Because five hundred years ago a Knight	A2
Drove geese and beeves out from a Franklin's yard	A2
Because three hundred years ago a squire	Z2
Against her will and for her fair estate	A2
Married a very ugly red haired maid	A2
The blest inheritor of all their pelf	K
While in the full enjoyment of the same	X2
Sighs on his own confession every day	B
He cracks no egg without a moral sigh	K
Nor eats of beef but thinking on that wrong	J
Then yet the more to be revenged on them	A3
And shame their ancient pride if they should know	M
Works hard as any horse for his degree	C
And takes to writing verses	C
Ay he said	A2
Half laughing at himself Yet you and I	K
But for those tresses which enrich us yet	A2
With somewhat of the hue that partial fame	X2
Calls auburn when it shines on heads of heirs	C
But when it flames round brows of younger sons	C
Just red mere red why but for this I say	B
And but for selfish getting of the land	A2
And beggarly entailing it we two	M2
To day well fed well grown well dressed well read	A2
We might have been two horny handed boors	C
Lean clumsy ignorant and ragged boors	C
Planning for moonlight nights a poaching scheme	B3
Or soiling our dull souls and consciences	C
With plans for pilfering a cottage roost	A2
	-
What chorus are you dumb you should have cried	A2
'So good comes out of evil ' and with that	A2
As if all pauses it was natural	M
To seize for songs his voice broke out again	S2
	-
Coo dove to thy married mate	A2
She has two warm eggs in her nest	A2
Tell her the hours are few to wait	A2
Ere life shall dawn on their rest	A2
And thy young shall peck at the shells elate	A2
With a dream of her brooding breast	A2
	-
Coo dove for she counts the hours	C
Her fair wings ache for flight	A2
By day the apple has grown in the flowers	C
And the moon has grown by night	A2
And the white drift settled from hawthorn bowers	C
Yet they will not seek the light	A2
	-
Coo dove but what of the sky	K
And what if the storm wind swell	M
And the reeling branch come down from on high	K
To the grass where daisies dwell	M
And the brood beloved should with them lie	K
Or ever they break the shell	M
	-
Coo dove and yet black clouds lower	H
Like fate on the far off sea	C
Thunder and wind they bear to thy bower	H
As on wings of destiny	C
Ah what if they break in an evil hour	H
As they broke over mine and me	C
	-
What next we started like to girls for lo	M
The creaking voice more harsh than rusty crane	L2
Of one who stooped behind us cried aloud	A2
Good lack how sweet the gentleman does sing	J
So loud and sweet 'tis like to split his throat	A2
Why Mike's a child to him a two years child	A2
Chrisom child	A2
Who's Mike my brother growled	A2
A little roughly Quoth the fisherman	I2
Mike Sir he's just a fisher lad no more	D2
But he can sing when he takes on to sing	J
So loud there's not a sparrow in the spire	Z2
But needs must hear Sir if I might make bold	A2
I'd ask what song that was you sung My mate	A2
As we were shoving off the mackerel boats	C
Said he 'I'll wager that's the sort o' song	J
They kept their hearts up with in the Crimea '	-
	-
There fisherman quoth I he showed his wit	A2
Your mate he marked the sound of savage war	D2
Gunpowder groans hot shot and bursting shells	C
And 'murderous messages ' delivered by	K
Spent balls that break the heads of dreaming men	S2
	-
Ay ay Sir quoth the fisherman Have done	O2
My brother And I The gift belongs to few	M2
Of sending farther than the words can reach	Y2
Their spirit and expression still Have done	O2
He cried and then I rolled the rubbish out	A2
More loudly than the meaning warranted	A2
To air my lungs I thought not on the words	C
	-
Then said the fisherman who missed the point	A2
So Mike rolls out the psalm you'll hear him Sir	H
Please God you live till Sunday	B
Even so	M
And you too fisherman for here they say	B
You are all church goers	C
Surely Sir quoth he	C
Took off his hat and stroked his old white head	A2
And wrinkled face then sitting by us said	A2
As one that utters with a quiet mind	A2
Unchallenged truth 'Tis lucky for the boats	C
	-
The boats 'tis lucky for the boats Our eyes	C
Were drawn to him as either fain would say	B
What do they send the psalm up in the spire	Z2
And pray because 'tis lucky for the boats	C
	-
But he the brown old man the wrinkled man	I2
That all his life had been a church goer	H
Familiar with celestial cadences	C
Informed of all he could receive and sure	C3
Of all he understood he sat content	A2
And we kept silence In his reverend face	C
There was a simpleness we could not sound	A2
Much truth had passed him overhead some error	H
He had trod under foot God comfort him	D3
He could not learn of us for we were young	J
And he was old and so we gave it up	E3
And the sun went into the west and down	D
Upon the water stooped an orange cloud	A2
And the pale milky reaches flushed as glad	A2
To wear its colors and the sultry air	P2
Went out to sea and puffed the sails of ships	C
With thymy wafts the breath of trodden grass	C
It took moreover music for across	C
The heather belt and over pasture land	A2
Came the sweet monotone of one slow bell	M
And parted time into divisions rare	P2
Whereof each morsel brought its own delight	A2
	-
They ring for service quoth the fisherman	I2
Our parson preaches in the church to night	A2
	-
And do the people go my brother asked	A2
	-
Ay Sir they count it mean to stay away	B
He takes it so to heart He's a rare man	I2
Our parson half a head above us all	M
	-
That's a great gift and notable said I	K
	-
Ay Sir and when he was a younger man	I2
He went out in the lifeboat very oft	A2
Before the 'Grace of Sunderland' was wrecked	A2
He's never been his own man since that hour	H
For there were thirty men aboard of her	H
Anigh as close as you are now to me	C
And ne'er a one was saved	A2
They're lying now	U2
With two small children in a row the church	F3
And yard are full of seamen's graves and few	M2
Have any names	C
She bumped upon the reef	K
Our parson my young son and several more	D2
Were lashed together with a two inch rope	G3
And crept along to her their mates ashore	D2
Ready to haul them in The gale was high	K
The sea was all a boiling seething froth	H3
And God Almighty's guns were going off	K
And the land trembled	A2
	-
When she took the ground	A2
She went to pieces like a lock of hay	B
Tossed from a pitchfork Ere it came to that	A2
The captain reeled on deck with two small things	C
One in each arm his little lad and lass	C
Their hair was long and blew before his face	C
Or else we thought he had been saved he fell	M
But held them fast The crew poor luckless souls	C
The breakers licked them off and some were crushed	A2
Some swallowed in the yeast some flung up dead	A2
The dear breath beaten out of them not one	O2
Jumped from the wreck upon the reef to catch	I3
The hands that strained to reach but tumbled back	J
With eyes wide open But the captain lay	B
And clung the only man alive They prayed	A2
'For God's sake captain throw the children here '	-
'Throw them ' our parson cried and then she struck	J
And he threw one a pretty two years child	A2
But the gale dashed him on the slippery verge	J3
And down he went They say they heard him cry	K
	-
Then he rose up and took the other one	O2
And all our men reached out their hungry arms	C
And cried out 'Throw her throw her ' and he did	A2
He threw her right against the parson's breast	A2
And all at once a sea broke over them	A3
And they that saw it from the shore have said	A2
It struck the wreck and piecemeal scattered it	A2
Just as a woman might the lump of salt	A2
That 'twixt her hands into the kneading pan	I2
She breaks and crumbles on her rising bread	A2
	-
We hauled our men in two of them were dead	A2
The sea had beaten them their heads hung down	D
Our parson's arms were empty for the wave	K
Had torn away the pretty pretty lamb	W
We often see him stand beside her grave	K
But 'twas no fault of his no fault of his	C
	-
I ask your pardon Sirs I prate and prate	A2
And never have I said what brought me here	G2
Sirs if you want a boat to morrow morn	K3
I'm bold to say there's ne'er a boat like mine	K2
	-
Ay that was what we wanted we replied	A2
A boat his boat and off he went well pleased	A2
	-
We too rose up the crimson in the sky	K
Flushing our faces and went sauntering on	L3
And thought to reach our lodging by the cliff	K
And up and down among the heather beds	C
And up and down between the sheaves we sped	A2
Doubling and winding for a long ravine	T
Ran up into the land and cut us off	K
Pushing out slippery ledges for the birds	C
And rent with many a crevice where the wind	A2
Had laid up drifts of empty eggshells swept	A2
From the bare berths of gulls and guillemots	C
	-
So as it chanced we lighted on a path	M3
That led into a nutwood and our talk	J
Was louder than beseemed if we had known	T2
With argument and laughter for the path	M3
As we sped onward took a sudden turn	N3
Abrupt and we came out on churchyard grass	C
And close upon a porch and face to face	C
With those within and with the thirty graves	C
We heard the voice of one who preached within	O
And stopped Come on my brother whispered me	C
It were more decent that we enter now	U2
Come on we'll hear this rare old demigod	A2
I like strong men and large I like gray heads	C
And grand gruff voices hoarse though this may be	C
With shouting in the storm	O3
It was not hoarse	C
The voice that preached to those few fishermen	O
And women nursing mothers with the babes	C
Hushed on their breasts and yet it held them not	A2
Their drowsy eyes were drawn to look at us	C
Till having leaned our rods against the wall	M
And left the dogs at watch we entered sat	A2
And were apprised that though he saw us not	A2
The parson knew that he had lost the eyes	C
And ears of those before him for he made	A2
A pause a long dead pause and dropped his arms	C
And stood awaiting till I felt the red	A2
Mount to my brow	U2
And a soft fluttering stir	H
Passed over all and every mother hushed	A2
The babe beneath her shawl and he turned round	A2
And met our eyes unused to diffidence	C
But diffident of his then with a sigh	K
Fronted the folk lifted his grand gray head	A2
And said as one that pondered now the words	C
He had been preaching on with new surprise	C
And found fresh marvel in their sound Behold	A2
Behold saith He I stand at the door and knock	J
	-
Then said the parson What and shall He wait	A2
And must He wait not only till we say	C
'Good Lord the house is clean the hearth is swept	A2
The children sleep the mackerel boats are in	O
And all the nets are mended therefore I	K
Will slowly to the door and open it '	-
But must He also wait where still behold	A2
He stands and knocks while we do say 'Good Lord	A2
The gentlefolk are come to worship here	G2
And I will up and open to Thee soon	P3
But first I pray a little longer wait	A2
For I am taken up with them my eyes	C
Must needs regard the fashion of their clothes	C
And count the gains I think to make by them	A3
Forsooth they are of much account good Lord	A2
Therefore have patience with me wait dear Lord	A2
Or come again '	-
What must He wait for THIS	C
For this Ay He doth wait for this and still	M
Waiting for this He patient raileth not	A2
Waiting for this e'en this He saith 'Behold	A2
I stand at the door and knock '	-
O patient hand	A2
Knocking and waiting knocking in the night	A2
When work is done I charge you by the sea	C
Whereby you fill your children's mouths and by	K
The might of Him that made it fishermen	O
I charge you mothers by the mother's milk	J
He drew and by His Father God over all	M
Blessed forever that ye answer Him	D3
Open the door with shame if ye have sinned	A2
If ye be sorry open it with sighs	C
Albeit the place be bare for poverty	C
And comfortless for lack of plenishing	J
Be not abashed for that but open it	A2
And take Him in that comes to sup with thee	C
'Behold ' He saith 'I stand at the door and knock '	-
	-
Now hear me there be troubles in this world	A2
That no man can escape and there is one	O2
That lieth hard and heavy on my soul	M
Concerning that which is to come	Q3
I say	C
As a man that knows what earthly trouble means	C
I will not bear this ONE I cannot bear	P2
This ONE I cannot bear the weight of you	M2
You every one of you body and soul	M
You with the care you suffer and the loss	C
That you sustain you with the growing up	E3
To peril maybe with the growing old	A2
To want unless before I stand with you	M2
At the great white throne I may be free of all	M
And utter to the full what shall discharge	R3
Mine obligation nay I will not wait	A2
A day for every time the black clouds rise	C
And the gale freshens still I search my soul	M
To find if there be aught that can persuade	A2
To good or aught forsooth that can beguile	M
From evil that I miserable man	I2
If that be so have left unsaid undone	O2
	-
So that when any risen from sunken wrecks	C
Or rolled in by the billows to the edge	S3
Of the everlasting strand what time the sea	C
Gives up her dead shall meet me they may say	C
Never 'Old man you told us not of this	C
You left us fisher lads that had to toil	M
Ever in danger of the secret stab	T3
Of rocks far deadlier than the dagger winds	C
Of breath more murderous than the cannon's wave	K
Mighty to rock us to our death and gulfs	C
Ready beneath to suck and swallow us in	O
This crime be on your head and as for us	C
What shall we do 'but rather nay not so	C
I will not think it I will leave the dead	A2
Appealing but to life I am afraid	A2
Of you but not so much if you have sinned	A2
As for the doubt if sin shall be forgiven	O2
The day was I have been afraid of pride	A2
Hard man's hard pride but now I am afraid	A2
Of man's humility I counsel you	M2
By the great God's great humbleness and by	K
His pity be not humble over much	U3
See I will show at whose unopened doors	C
He stands and knocks that you may never says	C
'I am too mean too ignorant too lost	A2
He knocks at other doors but not at mine '	-
	-
See here it is the night it is the night	A2
And snow lies thickly white untrodden snow	C
And the wan moon upon a casement shines	C
A casement crusted o'er with frosty leaves	C
That make her ray less bright along the floor	D2
A woman sits with hands upon her knees	C
Poor tired soul and she has nought to do	M2
For there is neither fire nor candle light	A2
The driftwood ash lies cold upon her hearth	V3
The rushlight flickered down an hour ago	C
Her children wail a little in their sleep	F
For cold and hunger and as if that sound	A2
Was not enough another comes to her	H
Over God's undefiled snow a song	J
Nay never hang your heads I say a song	J
And doth she curse the alehouse and the sots	C
That drink the night out and their earnings there	P2
And drink their manly strength and courage down	D
And drink away the little children's bread	A2
And starve her starving by the self same act	A2
Her tender suckling that with piteous eye	K
Looks in her face till scarcely she has heart	A2
To work and earn the scanty bit and drop	W3
That feed the others	C
Does she curse the song	J
I think not fishermen I have not heard	A2
Such women curse God's curse is curse enough	K
To morrow she will say a bitter thing	J
Pulling her sleeve down lest the bruises show	C
A bitter thing but meant for an excuse	C
'My master is not worse than many men '	-
But now ay now she sitteth dumb and still	M
No food no comfort cold and poverty	C
Bearing her down	D
My heart is sore for her	H
How long how long When troubles come of God	A2
When men are frozen out of work when wives	C
Are sick when working fathers fail and die	K
When boats go down at sea then nought behoves	C
Like patience but for troubles wrought of men	S2
Patience is hard I tell you it is hard	A2
	-
O thou poor soul it is the night the night	A2
Against thy door drifts up the silent snow	C
Blocking thy threshold 'Fall' thou sayest 'fall fall	M
Cold snow and lie and be trod underfoot	A2
Am not I fallen wake up and pipe O wind	A2
Dull wind and heat and bluster at my door	D2
Merciful wind sing me a hoarse rough song	J
For there is other music made to night	A2
That I would fain not hear Wake thou still sea	C
Heavily plunge Shoot on white waterfall	M
O I could long like thy cold icicles	C
Freeze freeze and hang upon the frosty clift	A2
And not complain so I might melt at last	A2
In the warm summer sun as thou wilt do	M2
	-
'But woe is me I think there is no sun	O2
My sun is sunken and the night grows dark	J
None care for me The children cry for bread	A2
And I have none and nought can comfort me	C
Even if the heavens were free to such as I	K
It were not much for death is long to wait	A2
And heaven is far to go '	-
	-
And speak'st thou thus	C
Despairing of the sun that sets to thee	C
And of the earthly love that wanes to thee	C
And of the heaven that lieth far from thee	C
Peace peace fond fool One draweth near thy door	D2
Whose footsteps leave no print across the snow	C
Thy sun has risen with comfort in his face	C
The smile of heaven to warm thy frozen heart	A2
And bless with saintly hand What is it long	J
To wait and far to go Thou shalt not go	C
Behold across the snow to thee He comes	C
Thy heaven descends and is it long to wait	A2
Thou shalt not wait 'This night this night ' he saith	C
'I stand at the door and knock '	-
	-
It is enough can such an one be here	G2
Yea here O God forgive you fishermen	O
One is there only one But do thou know	C
O woman pale for want if thou art here	G2
That on thy lot much thought is spent in heaven	O2
And coveting the heart a hard man broke	J
One standeth patient watching in the night	A2
And waiting in the daytime	X3
What shall be	C
If thou wilt answer He will smile on thee	C
One smile of His shall be enough to heal	M
The wound of man's neglect and He will sigh	K
Pitying the trouble which that sigh shall cure	C3
And He will speak speak in the desolate nigh	K
In the dark night 'For me a thorny crown	D
Men wove and nails were driven in my hands	C
And feet there was an earthquake and I died	A2
I died and am alive for evermore	D2
	-
'I died for thee for thee I am alive	K
And my humanity doth mourn for thee	C
For thou art mine and all thy little ones	C
They too are mine are mine Behold the house	C
Is dark but there is brightness where the sons	C
Of God are singing and behold the heart	A2
Is troubled yet the nations walk in white	A2
They have forgotten how to weep and thou	C
Shalt also come and I will foster thee	C
And satisfy thy soul and thou shall warm	O3
Thy trembling life beneath the smile of God	A2
A little while it is a little while	M
A little while and I will comfort thee	C
I go away but I will come again '	-
	-
But hear me yet There was a poor old man	I2
Who sat and listened to the raging sea	C
And heard it thunder lunging at the cliffs	C
As like to tear them down He lay at night	A2
And 'Lord have mercy on the lads ' said he	C
'That sailed at noon though they be none of mine	K2
For when the gale gets up and when the wind	A2
Flings at the window when it beats the roof	K
And lulls and stops and rouses up again	S2
And cuts the crest clean off the plunging wave	K
And scatters it like feathers up the field	A2
Why then I think of my two lads my lads	C
That would have worked and never let me want	A2
And never let me take the parish pay	C
No none of mine my lads were drowned at sea	C
My two before the most of these wore born	K3
I know how sharp that cuts since my poor wife	K
Walked up and down and still walked up and down	D
And I walked after and one could not hear	G2
A word the other said for wind and sea	C
That raged and beat and thundered in the night	A2
The awfullest the longest lightest night	A2
That ever parents had to spend a moon	P3
That shone like daylight on the breaking wave	K
Ah me and other men have lost their lads	C
And other women wiped their poor dead mouths	C
And got them home and dried them in the house	C
And seen the driftwood lie along the coast	A2
That was a tidy boat but one day back	J
And seen next tide the neighbors gather it	A2
To lay it on their fires	C
Ay I was strong	J
And able bodied loved my work but now	C
I am a useless hull 'tis time I sank	J
I am in all men's way I trouble them	A3
I am a trouble to myself but yet	A2
I feel for mariners of stormy nights	C
And feel for wives that watch ashore Ay ay	C
If I had learning I would pray the Lord	A2
To bring them in but I'm no scholar no	C
Book learning is a world too hard for me	C
But I make bold to say 'O Lord good Lord	A2
I am a broken down poor man a fool	M
To speak to Thee but in the Book 'tis writ	A2
As I hear say from others that can read	A2
How when Thou camest Thou didst love the sea	C
And live with fisherfolk whereby 'tis sure	C3
Thou knowest all the peril they go through	M2
And all their trouble	M
As for me good Lord	A2
I have no boat I am too old too old	A2
My lads are drowned I buried my poor wife	K
My little lasses died so long ago	C
That mostly I forget what they were like	J
Thou knowest Lord they were such little ones	C
I know they went to Thee but I forget	A2
Their faces though I missed them sore	D2
O Lord	A2
I was a strong man I have drawn good food	A2
And made good money out of Thy great sea	C
But yet I cried for them at nights and now	C
Although I be so old I miss my lads	C
And there be many folk this stormy night	A2
Heavy with fear for theirs Merciful Lord	A2
Comfort them save their honest boys their pride	A2
And let them hear next ebb the blessedest	A2
Best sound the boat keels grating on the sand	A2
I cannot pray with finer words I know	C
Nothing I have no learning cannot learn	N3
Too old too old They say I want for nought	A2
I have the parish pay but I am dull	M
Of hearing and the fire scarce warms me through	M2
God save me I have been a sinful man	I2
And save the lives of them that still can work	J
For they are good to me ay good to me	C
But Lord I am a trouble and I sit	A2
And I am lonesome and the nights are few	M2
That any think to come and draw a chair	P2
And sit in my poor place and talk a while	M
Why should they come forsooth Only the wind	A2
Knocks at my door O long and loud it knocks	C
The only thing God made that has a mind	A2
To enter in '	-
	-
Yea thus the old man spake	J
These were the last words of his aged mouth	C
BUT ONE DID KNOCK One came to sup with him	D3
That humble weak old man knocked at his door	D2
In the rough pauses of the laboring wind	A2
I tell you that One knocked while it was dark	J
Save where their foaming passion had made white	A2
Those livid seething billows What He said	A2
In that poor place where He did talk a while	M
I cannot tell but this I am assured	A2
That when the neighbors came the morrow morn	K3
What time the wind had bated and the sun	O2
Shone on the old man's floor they saw the smile	M
He passed away in and they said 'He looks	C
As he had woke and seen the face of Christ	A2
And with that rapturous smile held out his arms	C
To come to Him '	-
	-
Can such an one be here	G2
So old so weak so ignorant so frail	M
The Lord be good to thee thou poor old man	I2
It would be hard with thee if heaven were shut	A2
To such as have not learning Nay nay nay	C
He condescends to them of low estate	A2
To such as are despised He cometh down	D
Stands at the door and knocks	C
	-
Yet bear with me	C
I have a message I have more to say	C
Shall sorrow win His pity and not sin	O
That burden ten times heavier to be borne	K3
What think you Shall the virtuous have His care	P2
Alone O virtuous women think not scorn	K3
For you may lift your faces everywhere	P2
And now that it grows dusk and I can see	C
None though they front me straight I fain would tell	M
A certain thing to you I say to you	M2
And if it doth concern you as methinks	C
It doth then surely it concerneth all	M
I say that there was once I say not here	G2
I say that there was once a castaway	C
And she was weeping weeping bitterly	C
Kneeling and crying with a heart sick cry	K
That choked itself in sobs 'O my good name	X2
Oh my good name ' And none did hear her cry	K
Nay and it lightened and the storm bolts fell	M
And the rain splashed upon the roof and still	M
She storm tost as the storming elements	C
She cried with an exceeding bitter cry	K
'O my good name ' And then the thunder cloud	A2
Stooped low and burst in darkness overhead	A2
And rolled and rocked her on her knees and shook	J
The frail foundations of her dwelling place	C
But she if any neighbors had come in	O
None did if any neighbors had come in	O
They might have seen her crying on her knees	C
And sobbing 'Lost lost lost ' beating her breast	A2
Her breast forever pricked with cruel thorns	C
The wounds whereof could neither balm assuage	Y3
Nor any patience heal beating her brow	C
Which ached it had been bent so long to hide	A2
From level eyes whose meaning was contempt	A2
	-
O ye good women it is hard to leave	K
The paths of virtue and return again	S2
What if this sinner wept and none of you	M2
Comforted her And what if she did strive	K
To mend and none of you believed her strife	K
Nor looked upon her Mark I do not say	C
Though it was hard you therefore were to blame	X2
That she had aught against you though your feet	A2
Never drew near her door But I beseech	Y2
Your patience Once in old Jerusalem	Q3
A woman kneeled at consecrated feet	A2
Kissed them and washed them with her tears	C
What then	S2
I think that yet our Lord is pitiful	M
I think I see the castaway e'en now	C
And she is not alone the heavy rain	L2
Splashes without and sullen thunder rolls	C
But she is lying at the sacred feet	A2
Of One transfigured	A2
	-
And her tears flow down	D
Down to her lips her lips that kiss the print	A2
Of nails and love is like to break her heart	A2
Love and repentance for it still doth work	J
Sore in her soul to think to think that she	C
Even she did pierce the sacred sacred feet	A2
And bruise the thorn crowned head	A2
	-
O Lord our Lord	A2
How great is Thy compassion Come good Lord	A2
For we will open Come this night good Lord	A2
Stand at the door and knock	J
	-
And is this all	M
Trouble old age and simpleness and sin	O
This all It might be all some other night	A2
But this night if a voice said 'Give account	A2
Whom hast thou with thee ' then must I reply	K
'Young manhood have I beautiful youth and strength	C
Rich with all treasure drawn up from the crypt	A2
Where lies the learning of the ancient world	A2
Brave with all thoughts that poets fling upon	L3
The strand of life as driftweed after storms	C
Doubtless familiar with Thy mountain heads	C
And the dread purity of Alpine snows	C
Doubtless familiar with Thy works concealed	A2
For ages from mankind outlying worlds	C
And many moon d spheres and Thy great store	D2
Of stars more thick than mealy dust which here	G2
Powders the pale leaves of Auriculas	C
This do I know but Lord I know not more	D2
Not more concerning them concerning Thee	C
I know Thy bounty where Thou givest much	U3
Standing without if any call Thee in	O
Thou givest more ' Speak then O rich and strong	J
Open O happy young ere yet the hand	A2
Of Him that knocks wearied at last forbear	D2
The patient foot its thankless quest refrain	L2
The wounded heart for evermore withdraw	D2
	-
I have heard many speak but this one man	I2
So anxious not to go to heaven alone	T2
This one man I remember and his look	J
Till twilight overshadowed him He ceased	A2
And out in darkness with the fisherfolk	J
We passed and stumbled over mounds of moss	C
And heard but did not see the passing beck	J
Ah graceless heart would that it could regain	L2
From the dim storehouse of sensations past	A2
The impress full of tender awe that night	A2
Which fell on me It was as if the Christ	A2
Had been drawn down from heaven to track us home	Z3
And any of the footsteps following us	C
Might have been His	C

Jean Ingelow

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