Columbus Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCE CFCFCDC GHGHCDCI JKJKLDMI NKNKODOI| Behind him lay the gray Azores | A |
| Behind the Gates of Hercules | B |
| Before him not the ghost of shores | A |
| Before him only shoreless seas | B |
| The good mate said Now must we pray | C |
| For lo the very stars are gone | D |
| Brave Admiral speak what shall I say | C |
| Why say Sail on sail on and on ' | E |
| - | |
| My men grow mutinous day by day | C |
| My men grow ghastly wan and weak | F |
| The stout mate thought of home a spray | C |
| Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek | F |
| What shall I say brave Admiral say | C |
| If we sight naught but seas at dawn | D |
| Why you shall say at break of day | C |
| Sail on sail on sail on and on ' | - |
| - | |
| They sailed and sailed as winds might blow | G |
| Until at last the blanched mate said | H |
| Why now not even God would know | G |
| Should I and all my men fall dead | H |
| These very winds forget their way | C |
| For God from these dread seas is gone | D |
| Now speak brave Admiral speak and say | C |
| He said Sail on sail on and on | I |
| - | |
| They sailed They sailed Then spake the mate | J |
| This mad sea shows his teeth to night | K |
| He curls his lip he lies in wait | J |
| With lifted teeth as if to bite | K |
| Brave Admiral say but one good word | L |
| What shall we do when hope is gone | D |
| The words leapt like a leaping sword | M |
| Sail on sail on sail on and on | I |
| - | |
| Then pale and worn he kept his deck | N |
| And peered through darkness Ah that night | K |
| Of all dark nights And then a speck | N |
| A light A light A light A light | K |
| It grew a starlit flag unfurled | O |
| It grew to be Time's burst of dawn | D |
| He gained a world he gave that world | O |
| Its grandest lesson On sail on | I |
Joaquin Miller
(9)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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Write your comment about Columbus poem by Joaquin Miller
Tim Lepore: I memorized this poem in 6th grade circa 1986-87. I still know it.
Ava Kim: I did this poem in 4th grade
Ava kim: I did this poem in 4th grade and memorize the whole thing
CJ Jebsen-Ross: I memorized this poem in 10 th grade. Lived in the Azores at the time!
Andrew Dunn: I was there in 1976
Saksham Kandoi: Superb excellent poem on brave Columbus I am proud of Joaquin Miller
Mona Finley: I also learned this poem in grade school. I still remember s lot of it. Thsank you for printing it.
Mary Caruso: Ah, beloved memories. We memorized this poem in grammar school, back when teachers were free to teach, and teach they did.
I read today that Mathematics is now considered racist by the Seattle School Board. Ah, my. Another way to keep people stupid and subservient.
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