My Native Land Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH IJIJKLKL MNMNOPOP| IT chanced to me upon a time to sail | A |
| Across the Southern Ocean to and fro | B |
| And landing at fair isles by stream and vale | A |
| Of sensuous blessing did we ofttimes go | B |
| And months of dreamy joys like joys in sleep | C |
| Or like a clear calm stream o'er mossy stone | D |
| Unnoted passed our hearts with voiceless sweep | C |
| And left us yearning still for lands unknown | D |
| - | |
| And when we found one for 'tis soon to find | E |
| In thousand isled Cathay another isle | F |
| For one short noon its treasures filled the mind | E |
| And then again we yearned and ceased to smile | F |
| And so it was from isle to isle we passed | G |
| Like wanton bees or boys on flowers or lips | H |
| And when that all was tasted then at last | G |
| We thirsted still for draughts instead of sips | H |
| - | |
| I learned from this there is no Southern land | I |
| Can fill with love the hearts of Northern men | J |
| Sick minds need change but when in health they stand | I |
| 'Neath foreign skies their love flies home again | J |
| And thus with me it was the yearning turned | K |
| From laden airs of cinnamon away | L |
| And stretched far westward while the full heart burned | K |
| With love for Ireland looking on Cathay | L |
| - | |
| My first dear love all dearer for thy grief | M |
| My land that has no peer in all the sea | N |
| For verdure vale or river flower or leaf | M |
| If first to no man else thou'rt first to me | N |
| New loves may come with duties but the first | O |
| Is deepest yet the mother's breath and smiles | P |
| Like that kind face and breast where I was nursed | O |
| Is my poor land the Niobe of isles | P |
John Boyle O'reilly
(1)
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