The Patriot's Game Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABBCCDDBB DDEF AGGHIJH DDKDDL ADFDE MNON POPO EQEQ HRHS TI J FUFU FVFV FDFD OWW DD DD XX OO OO OO YY OO BB ZH OO

IA
TEAR down the crape from the column Let the shaft stand white and fairB
Be silent the wailing music there is no death in the airB
We come not in plaint or sorrow no tears may dim our sightC
We dare not weep o'er the epitaph we have not dared to writeC
Come hither with glowing faces the sire the youth and the childD
This grave is a shrine for reverent hearts and hands that are undefiledD
Its ashes are inspiration it giveth us strength to bearB
And sweepeth away dissension and nerveth the will to dareB
-
In the midst of the tombs a Gravestone and written thereon no wordD
And behold at the head of the grave a gibbet a torch and a swordD
And the people kneel by the gibbet and pray by the nameless stoneE
For the torch to be lit and the name to be writ and the sword's red work to be doneF
-
-
IIA
With pride and not with griefG
We lay this century leafG
Upon the tomb with hearts that do not falterH
A few brief toiling yearsI
Since fell the nation's tearsJ
And lo the patriot's gibbet is an altarH
-
The people that are blestD
Have him they love the bestD
To mount the martyr's scaffold when they need himK
And vain the cords that bindD
While the nation's steadfast mindD
Like the needle to the pole is true to freedomL
-
-
IIIA
Three powers there are that dominate the worldD
Fraud Force and Right and two oppress the oneF
The bolts of Fraud and Force like twins are hurledD
Against them ever standeth Right aloneE
-
Cyclopian strokes the brutal allies giveM
Their fetters massive and their dungeon wallsN
Beneath their yoke weak nations cease to liveO
And valiant Right itself defenseless fallsN
-
Defaced is law and justice slain at birthP
Good men are broken malefactors thriveO
But when the tyrants tower o'er the earthP
Behind their wheels strong right is still aliveO
-
Alive like seed that God's own hand has sownE
Like seed that lieth in the lowly furrowQ
But springs to life when wintry winds are blownE
To day the earth is gray 'tis green to morrowQ
-
The roots strike deep despite the rulers' powerH
The plant grows strong with summer sun and rainR
Till autumn bursts the deep red hearted flowerH
And freedom marches to the front againS
-
While slept the right and reigned the dual wrongT
Unchanged unchecked for half a thousand yearsI
In tears of blood we cried 'O Lord how long '-
And even God seemed deaf to Erin's tearsJ
-
But when she lay all weak and bruised and brokenF
Her white limbs seared with cruel chain and thornU
As bursts the cloud the lightning word was spokenF
God's seed took root His crop of men was bornU
-
With one deep breath began the land's progressionF
On every field the seeds of freedom fellV
Burke Grattan Flood and Curran in the sessionF
Fitzgerald Sheares and Emmet in the cellV
-
Such teachers soon aroused the dormant nationF
Such sacrifice insured the endless fightD
The voice of Grattan smote wrong's dominationF
The death of Emmet sealed the cause of rightD
-
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IVO
Richest of gifts to a nation Death with the living crownW
Type of ideal manhood to the people's heart brought downW
-
Fount of the hopes we cherish test of the things we doD
Gorgon's face for the traitor talisman for the trueD
-
Sweet is the love of a woman and sweet is the kiss of a childD
Sweet is the tender strength and the bravery of the mildD
-
But sweeter than all for embracing all is the young life's peerless priceX
The young heart laid on the altar as a nation's sacrificeX
-
How can the debt be canceled Prayers and tears we may giveO
But how recall the anguish of hearts that have ceased to liveO
-
Flushed with the pride of genius filled with the strength of lifeO
Thrilled with delicious passion for her who would be his wifeO
-
This was the heart he offered the upright life he gaveO
This is the silent sermon of the patriot's nameless graveO
-
Shrine of a nation's honor stone left blank for a nameY
Light on the dark horizon to guide us clear from shameY
-
Chord struck deep with the keynote telling us what can saveO
'A nation among the nations ' or forever a nameless graveO
-
Such is the will of the martyr the burden we still must bearB
But even from death he reaches the legacy to shareB
-
He teaches the secret of manhood the watchword of those who aspireZ
That men must follow freedom though it lead through blood and fireH
-
That sacrifice is the bitter draught which freemen still mast quaffO
That every patriotic life is the patriot's epitaphO

John Boyle O'reilly



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