Loch Uisk, Isle Of Mull Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBB CDEDFGHGFIFI GJKJHLMLGGBG GGGGMNBN GGHGMGNG FOGOMGMGBPNPMQRQBIMI NMNMHGNGMOMOGGMGGGGG NGNGMSGTGGNGFUMUGGVG GGNGBNFN MGWGNXVXMGGG NMHMNYBYHGUG FZMZMA2GA2Yon vale among the mountains | A |
So sheltered from the sea | B |
That lake which lies so lonely | B |
Shall tell their tale to thee | B |
- | |
Here stood a stately convent | C |
Where now the waters sleep | D |
Here floated sweeter music | E |
Than comes from yonder deep | D |
Above the holy building | F |
The summer cloud would rest | G |
And listen where to heaven | H |
Rose hymns to God addressed | G |
For the hills took up the chanting | F |
And from their emerald wall | I |
The sounds they loved would lingering | F |
In fainter accents fall | I |
- | |
Hard by beside a streamlet | G |
Fast flowing from a well | J |
A nun in long past ages | K |
Had built her sainted cell | J |
To her in dreams 'twas given | H |
As sacred task and charge | L |
To keep unchanged for ever | M |
The bright Spring's mossy marge | L |
Peace shall with joys attendant | G |
For ever here abide | G |
While reverently and faithfully | B |
You guard its taintless tide | G |
- | |
And when she knew her spirit | G |
Was summoned to its rest | G |
To all around her gathered | G |
She gave that high behest | G |
And many followed after | M |
To seek the life she chose | N |
Till like a flower in glory | B |
The cloistered convent rose | N |
- | |
Through Scotland's times of bloodshed | G |
Of foray feud and raid | G |
Their home became the haven | H |
Where storm and strife were stayed | G |
Men blessed each dark robed Sister | M |
And thought an angel trod | G |
Where walked in love and meekness | N |
A lowly maid of God | G |
- | |
Right happy were they lighting | F |
With love those days of doom | O |
For heart need ne'er be darkened | G |
By any garment's gloom | O |
Yes often life thereafter | M |
Was here with gladness crowned | G |
For sad as seemed their vesture | M |
The peace of God was found | G |
His holiness in beauty | B |
Made every trial seem | P |
A rock that lies all harmless | N |
Deep hidden in a stream | P |
While life was pure there never | M |
Was wish in thought to gain | Q |
The world where far behind them | R |
The black nuns left their pain | Q |
And time but flew too quickly | B |
O'er that friend circle small | I |
Where each one loved her neighbour | M |
And God was loved of all | I |
- | |
Still from its beauteous chalice | N |
That well's unceasing store | M |
Poured forth through whispering channels | N |
The crystal load it bore | M |
Hope seemed to bring the fountain | H |
To seek the light of day | G |
Faith made it bright Obedience | N |
Smoothed hallowing its way | G |
Full many a gorgeous Summer | M |
Woke heather into bloom | O |
And oft cold stars in Winter | M |
Looked on a Sister's tomb | O |
Before the joy had withered | G |
That virtue once had nursed | G |
Before their Lord and Master | M |
Grew love for things accursed | G |
Lo then the stream neglected | G |
Forsook its wonted way | G |
In stagnant pools dark tainted | G |
Its wandering waters lay | G |
- | |
There choked by moorland ridges | N |
Black with the growth of peat | G |
Beneath the quaking surface | N |
The fetid floods would meet | G |
Till rising spreading ever | M |
Above the chalice green | S |
Of that fair Well they covered | G |
The place where it had been | T |
Then near the careless convent | G |
Within the hill's deep shade | G |
The Fate which works in silence | N |
A lake had slowly made | G |
As evil knows not halting | F |
When passions strongly flow | U |
So daily deeper deeper | M |
Would those dark waters grow | U |
Till on an awful midnight | G |
When red the windows flamed | G |
And song and jest and revel | V |
The Vesper hour had shamed | G |
And wanton sin dishonoured | G |
The time Christ's birth had crowned | G |
They burst their banks in darkness | N |
And with their raging sound | G |
The rocks of all the valley | B |
Rung for a few hours' space | N |
Then the wide Loch at morning | F |
Reflected heaven's face | N |
- | |
Few voices now are heard there | M |
Around the wild deer feed | G |
And winds sigh loud in Autumn | W |
Through copse and rush and reed | G |
Men say that when in darkness | N |
They pass the water's verge | X |
Each hears mid sounds of revel | V |
The Miserere's dirge | X |
That faintly strangely ever | M |
Upon the Loch's dark breast | G |
Beneath above around it | G |
Shine lights that never rest | G |
- | |
Of all such ghastly phantoms | N |
Bred of the night and fear | M |
By hope of our salvation | H |
None meets the noontide clear | M |
The blue sky's tender beauties | N |
Upon the strong floods shine | Y |
As God's eternal mercy | B |
Dwells with His might divine | Y |
Pure as their mystic fountain | H |
They sleep and flow unstained | G |
Although the hue of sorrow | U |
Hath in their depths remained | G |
- | |
The swallow swiftly passing | F |
Flies low to kiss the wave | Z |
When rippling gently over | M |
Some pure saint's holy grave | Z |
The hunter's eyes discover | M |
Beneath those waters still | A2 |
The walls of that proud convent | G |
Where God hath worked His will | A2 |
John Campbell
(1)
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