Songs On The Voices Of Birds. A Raven In A White Chine Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IBIB CJCJ KLKL MNMN KOKO PQPQ| I saw when I looked up on either hand | A |
| A pale high chalk cliff reared aloft in white | B |
| A narrowing rent soon closed toward the land | A |
| Toward the sea an open yawning bight | B |
| - | |
| The polished tide with scarce a hint of blue | C |
| Washed in the bight above with angry moan | D |
| A raven that was robbed sat up in view | C |
| Croaking and crying on a ledge alone | D |
| - | |
| Stand on thy nest spread out thy fateful wings | E |
| With sullen hungry love bemoan thy brood | F |
| For boys have wrung their necks those imp like things | E |
| Whose beaks dripped crimson daily at their food | F |
| - | |
| Cry thou black prophetess cry and despair | G |
| None love thee none Their father was thy foe | H |
| Whose father in his youth did know thy lair | G |
| And steal thy little demons long ago | H |
| - | |
| Thou madest many childless for their sake | I |
| And picked out many eyes that loved the light | B |
| Cry thou black prophetess sit up awake | I |
| Forebode and ban them through the desolate night | B |
| - | |
| Lo while I spake it with a crimson hue | C |
| The dipping sun endowed that silver flood | J |
| And all the cliffs flushed red and up she flew | C |
| The bird as mad to bathe in airy blood | J |
| - | |
| Nay thou mayst cry the omen is not thine | K |
| Thou aged priestess of fell doom and fate | L |
| It is not blood thy gods are making wine | K |
| They spilt the must outside their city gate | L |
| - | |
| And stained their azure pavement with the lees | M |
| They will not listen though thou cry aloud | N |
| Old Chance thy dame sits mumbling at her ease | M |
| Nor hears the fair hag Luck is in her shroud | N |
| - | |
| They heed not they withdraw the sky hung sign | K |
| Thou hast no charm against the favorite race | O |
| Thy gods pour out for it not blood but wine | K |
| There is no justice in their dwelling place | O |
| - | |
| Safe in their father's house the boys shall rest | P |
| Though thy fell brood doth stark and silent lie | Q |
| Their unborn sons may yet despoil thy nest | P |
| Cry thou black prophetess lift up cry cry | Q |
Jean Ingelow
(1)
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Songs On The Voices Of Birds. A Raven In A White Chine is a poem by Jean Ingelow. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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