Three Graves Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACCBCCCCCCDDEEE FGHFIIJJCCKKLLMMCC NCNCCCCCCOOCCCCCCLLP PQQRRCC| HOW did he live this dead man here | A |
| With the temple above his grave | B |
| He lived as a great one from cradle to bier | A |
| He was nursed in luxury trained in pride | C |
| When the wish was born it was gratified | C |
| Without thanks he took without heed he gave | B |
| The common man was to him a clod | C |
| From whom he was far as a demigod | C |
| His duties To see that his rents were paid | C |
| His pleasure To know that the crowd obeyed | C |
| His pulse if you felt it throbbed apart | C |
| With a separate stroke from the people's heart | C |
| But whom did he love and whom did he bless | D |
| Was the life of him more than a man's or less | D |
| I know not He died There was none to blame | E |
| And as few to weep but these marbles came | E |
| For the temple that rose to preserve his name | E |
| - | |
| How did he live that other dead man | F |
| From the graves apart and alone | G |
| As a great one too Yes this was one | H |
| Who lived to labor and study and plan | F |
| The earth's deep thought he loved to reveal | I |
| He banded the breast of the land with steel | I |
| The thread of his toil he never broke | J |
| He filled the cities with wheels and smoke | J |
| And workers by day and workers by night | C |
| For the day was too short for his vigor's flight | C |
| Too firm was he to be feeling and giving | K |
| For labor for gain was a life worth living | K |
| He worshiped Industry dreamt of her sighed for her | L |
| Potent he grew by her famous he died for her | L |
| They say he improved the world in his time | M |
| That his mills and mines were a work sublime | M |
| When he died the laborers rested and sighed | C |
| Which was it because he had lived or died | C |
| - | |
| And how did he live that dead man there | N |
| In the country churchyard laid | C |
| O he He came for the sweet field air | N |
| He was tired of the town and he took no pride | C |
| In its fashion or fame He returned and died | C |
| In the place he loved where a child he played | C |
| With those who have knelt by his grave and prayed | C |
| He ruled no serfs and he knew no pride | C |
| He was one with the workers side by side | C |
| He hated a mill and a mine and a town | O |
| With their fever of misery struggle renown | O |
| He could never believe but a man was made | C |
| For a nobler end than the glory of trade | C |
| For the youth he mourned with an endless pity | C |
| Who were cast like snow on the streets of the city | C |
| He was weak maybe but he lost no friend | C |
| Who loved him once loved on to the end | C |
| He mourned all selfish and shrewd endeavor | L |
| But he never injured a weak one never | L |
| When censure was passed he was kindly dumb | P |
| He was never so wise but a fault would come | P |
| He was never so old that he failed to enjoy | Q |
| The games and the dreams he had loved when a boy | Q |
| He erred and was sorry but never drew | R |
| A trusting heart from the pure and true | R |
| When friends look back from the years to be | C |
| God grant they may say such things of me | C |
John Boyle O'reilly
(1)
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About Three Graves
Three Graves 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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