The Defence Of The Alamo Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCC DEDECC FGFGCC HIHJCC KLKLCC MNMNCC COCOCC| Santa Ana came storming as a storm might come | A |
| There was rumble of cannon there was rattle of blade | B |
| There was cavalry infantry bugle and drum | A |
| Full seven thousand in pomp and parade | B |
| The chivalry flower of Mexico | C |
| And a gaunt two hundred in the Alamo | C |
| - | |
| And thirty lay sick and some were shot through | D |
| For the siege had been bitter and bloody and long | E |
| Surrender or die Men what will you do | D |
| And Travis great Travis drew sword quick and strong | E |
| Drew a line at his feet Will you come Will you go | C |
| I die with my wounded in the Alamo | C |
| - | |
| Then Bowie gasped Lead me over that line | F |
| Then Crockett one hand to the sick one hand to his gun | G |
| Crossed with him then never a word or a sign | F |
| Till all sick or well all all save but one | G |
| One man Then a woman stepped praying and slow | C |
| Across to die at her post in the Alamo | C |
| - | |
| Then that one coward fled in the night in that night | H |
| When all men silently prayed and thought | I |
| Of home of to morrow of God and the right | H |
| Till dawn and with dawn came Travis's cannon shot | J |
| In answer to insolent Mexico | C |
| From the old bell tower of the Alamo | C |
| - | |
| Then came Santa Ana a crescent of flame | K |
| Then the red escalade then the fight hand to hand | L |
| Such an unequal fight as never had name | K |
| Since the Persian hordes butchered that doomed Spartan band | L |
| All day all day and all night and the morning so slow | C |
| Through the battle smoke mantling the Alamo | C |
| - | |
| Now silence Such silence Two thousand lay dead | M |
| In a crescent outside And within Not a breath | N |
| Save the gasp of a woman with gory gashed head | M |
| All alone all alone there waiting for death | N |
| And she but a nurse Yet when shall we know | C |
| Another like this of the Alamo | C |
| - | |
| Shout Victory victory victory ho | C |
| I say 'tis not always to the hosts that win | O |
| I say that the victory high or low | C |
| Is given the hero who grapples with sin | O |
| Or legion or single just asking to know | C |
| When duty fronts death in his Alamo | C |
Joaquin Miller
(3)
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