Loch Uisk, Isle Of Mull Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABBB CDEDFGHGFIFI GJKJHLMLGGBG GGGGMNBN GGHGMGNG FOGOMGMGBPNPMQRQBIMI NMNMHGNGMOMOGGMGGGGG NGNGMSGTGGNGFUMUGGVG GGNGBNFN MGWGNXVXMGGG NMHMNYBYHGUG FZMZMA2GA2

Yon vale among the mountainsA
So sheltered from the seaB
That lake which lies so lonelyB
Shall tell their tale to theeB
-
Here stood a stately conventC
Where now the waters sleepD
Here floated sweeter musicE
Than comes from yonder deepD
Above the holy buildingF
The summer cloud would restG
And listen where to heavenH
Rose hymns to God addressedG
For the hills took up the chantingF
And from their emerald wallI
The sounds they loved would lingeringF
In fainter accents fallI
-
Hard by beside a streamletG
Fast flowing from a wellJ
A nun in long past agesK
Had built her sainted cellJ
To her in dreams 'twas givenH
As sacred task and chargeL
To keep unchanged for everM
The bright Spring's mossy margeL
Peace shall with joys attendantG
For ever here abideG
While reverently and faithfullyB
You guard its taintless tideG
-
And when she knew her spiritG
Was summoned to its restG
To all around her gatheredG
She gave that high behestG
And many followed afterM
To seek the life she choseN
Till like a flower in gloryB
The cloistered convent roseN
-
Through Scotland's times of bloodshedG
Of foray feud and raidG
Their home became the havenH
Where storm and strife were stayedG
Men blessed each dark robed SisterM
And thought an angel trodG
Where walked in love and meeknessN
A lowly maid of GodG
-
Right happy were they lightingF
With love those days of doomO
For heart need ne'er be darkenedG
By any garment's gloomO
Yes often life thereafterM
Was here with gladness crownedG
For sad as seemed their vestureM
The peace of God was foundG
His holiness in beautyB
Made every trial seemP
A rock that lies all harmlessN
Deep hidden in a streamP
While life was pure there neverM
Was wish in thought to gainQ
The world where far behind themR
The black nuns left their painQ
And time but flew too quicklyB
O'er that friend circle smallI
Where each one loved her neighbourM
And God was loved of allI
-
Still from its beauteous chaliceN
That well's unceasing storeM
Poured forth through whispering channelsN
The crystal load it boreM
Hope seemed to bring the fountainH
To seek the light of dayG
Faith made it bright ObedienceN
Smoothed hallowing its wayG
Full many a gorgeous SummerM
Woke heather into bloomO
And oft cold stars in WinterM
Looked on a Sister's tombO
Before the joy had witheredG
That virtue once had nursedG
Before their Lord and MasterM
Grew love for things accursedG
Lo then the stream neglectedG
Forsook its wonted wayG
In stagnant pools dark taintedG
Its wandering waters layG
-
There choked by moorland ridgesN
Black with the growth of peatG
Beneath the quaking surfaceN
The fetid floods would meetG
Till rising spreading everM
Above the chalice greenS
Of that fair Well they coveredG
The place where it had beenT
Then near the careless conventG
Within the hill's deep shadeG
The Fate which works in silenceN
A lake had slowly madeG
As evil knows not haltingF
When passions strongly flowU
So daily deeper deeperM
Would those dark waters growU
Till on an awful midnightG
When red the windows flamedG
And song and jest and revelV
The Vesper hour had shamedG
And wanton sin dishonouredG
The time Christ's birth had crownedG
They burst their banks in darknessN
And with their raging soundG
The rocks of all the valleyB
Rung for a few hours' spaceN
Then the wide Loch at morningF
Reflected heaven's faceN
-
Few voices now are heard thereM
Around the wild deer feedG
And winds sigh loud in AutumnW
Through copse and rush and reedG
Men say that when in darknessN
They pass the water's vergeX
Each hears mid sounds of revelV
The Miserere's dirgeX
That faintly strangely everM
Upon the Loch's dark breastG
Beneath above around itG
Shine lights that never restG
-
Of all such ghastly phantomsN
Bred of the night and fearM
By hope of our salvationH
None meets the noontide clearM
The blue sky's tender beautiesN
Upon the strong floods shineY
As God's eternal mercyB
Dwells with His might divineY
Pure as their mystic fountainH
They sleep and flow unstainedG
Although the hue of sorrowU
Hath in their depths remainedG
-
The swallow swiftly passingF
Flies low to kiss the waveZ
When rippling gently overM
Some pure saint's holy graveZ
The hunter's eyes discoverM
Beneath those waters stillA2
The walls of that proud conventG
Where God hath worked His willA2

John Campbell



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