Macarius The Monk Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCCDEFGFHIJKKJLLMM NNOOPPPQ DDRRSSHTUULLV W OX YYZZA2IIA2B2B2C2C2 D2| IN the old days while yet the Church was young | A |
| And men believed that praise of God was sung | A |
| In curbing self as well as singing psalms | B |
| There lived a monk Macarius by name | C |
| A holy man to whom the faithful came | C |
| With hungry hearts to hear the wondrous Word | D |
| In sight of gushing springs and sheltering palms | E |
| He dwelt within the desert from the marsh | F |
| He drank the brackish water and his food | G |
| Was dates and roots and all his rule was harsh | F |
| For pampered flesh in' those days warred with good | H |
| From those who came in scores a few there were | I |
| Who feared the devil more than fast and prayer | J |
| And these remained and took the hermit's vow | K |
| A dozen saints there grew to be and now | K |
| Macarius happy lived in larger care | J |
| He taught his brethren all the lore he knew | L |
| And as they learned his pious rigors grew | L |
| His whole intent was on the spirit's goal | M |
| He taught them silence words disturb the soul | M |
| He warned of joys and bade them pray for sorrow | N |
| And be prepared to day for death to morrow | N |
| To know that human life alone was given | O |
| To prove the souls of those who merit heaven | O |
| He bade the twelve in all things be as brothers | P |
| And die to self to live and work for others | P |
| 'For so '' he said 'we save our love and labors | P |
| And each one gives his own and takes his neighbor's ' | Q |
| - | |
| Thus long he taught and while they silent heard | D |
| He prayed for fruitful soil to hold the Word | D |
| One day beside the marsh they' labored long | R |
| For worldly work makes sweeter sacred song | R |
| And when the cruel sun made hot the sand | S |
| And Afric's gnats the sweltering face and hand | S |
| Tormenting stung a passing traveler stood | H |
| And watched the workers by the reeking flood | T |
| Macarius nigh with heat and toil was faint | U |
| The traveler saw and to the suffering saint | U |
| A bunch of luscious grapes in pity threw | L |
| Most sweet and fresh and fair they were to view | L |
| A generous cluster bursting rich with wine | V |
| Macarius longed to taste ' The fruit is mine ' | - |
| He said and sighed 'but I who daily teach | W |
| Feel now the bond to practice as I preach ' | - |
| He gave the cluster to the nearest one | O |
| And with his heavy toil went patient on | X |
| - | |
| As one athirst will greet a flowing brim | Y |
| The tempting fruit made moist the mouth of him | Y |
| Who took the gift but in the yearning eye | Z |
| Rose brighter light to one whose lip was dry | Z |
| He gave the grapes and bent him to his spade | A2 |
| And he who took unknown to any other | I |
| The sweet refreshment handed to a brother | I |
| And so from each to each till round was made | A2 |
| The circuit wholly when the grapes at last | B2 |
| Untouched and tempting to Macarius passed | B2 |
| 'Now God be thanked ' he cried and ceased his toil | C2 |
| 'The seed was good but better was the soil | C2 |
| My brothers join with me to bless the day ' | - |
| But ere they knelt he threw the grapes away | D2 |
John Boyle O'reilly
(1)
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About Macarius The Monk
Macarius The Monk is a poem by John Boyle O'reilly. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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