The Blackfeet Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDCCEFEGHIHJIKI A ICLCIICILMCMIHCH A ININCCICKCICCCKC O ICICCIPIQMPMLILI O ICICCCICIRCROIKI O CLILCSCSLCLCTCLC O ICSCIUCUCCCCVWCW O ICOCCOTOSISIOHIH I CXTXVSISLSYSJCLC I IZCZA2B2IB2SC2OC2A2C LC

IA
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Where the snow world of the mountainsB
Fronts the sea like world of swardC
And encamped along the prairiesD
Tower the white peaks heavenwardC
Where they stand by dawn rose colouredC
Or dim silvered by the starsE
And behind their shadowed portalsF
Evening draws her lurid barsE
Lies a country whose sweet grassesG
Richly clothe the rolling plainH
All its swelling upland pasturesI
Speak of Plenty's happy reignH
There the bison herds in autumnJ
Roamed wide sunlit solitudesI
Seamed with many an azure riverK
Bright in burnished poplar woodsI
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IIA
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Night dews pearled the painted hide tentsI
Moyas named that on the meadC
Sheltered dark eyed women wearingL
Braided hair and woven beadC
Never man had seen their lodgesI
Never warrior crossed the slopesI
Where they rode and where they huntedC
Imu bulls and antelopesI
Masterless how swift their ridingL
While the wild steeds onward flewM
From round breasts and arms unburdenedC
Freedom's winds their tresses blewM
Only when the purple shadowsI
Slowly veiled the darkening plainH
Would they sorrow that the Sun godC
Dearer loved his Alp's domainH
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IIIA
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Southward nearer to the gorgesI
Whence the sudden warm winds blowN
Shaking all the pine's huge branchesI
Melting all the fallen snowN
Dwelt the S ksika the BlackfeetC
They whose ancestor enduedC
With the dark salve's magic fleetnessI
First on foot the deer pursuedC
Gallantly the Braves bore tortureK
While their Sun dance fasts were heldC
While the drums beat and the virginsI
Saw the pains by manhood quelledC
As each writhing form triumphantC
Called on the Great Spirit's mightC
On his son whose voice in thunderK
Summons airy hosts to fightC
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IVO
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Star Child praised as bearing all thingsI
Praised as Brave who never fearedC
Young but famed above his eldersI
Chief to man and maid endearedC
Went with comrades quiver harnessedC
O'er the hills and face to faceI
Where the bright leaves trembled round themP
Found the fearless huntress raceI
Was it peace or was it warfareQ
Starting back their bows they drewM
But a mystic power compelled themP
And no word no arrow flewM
Nearer to each other drawingL
Strength and beauty beckoned PeaceI
Each the other envious eyeingL
Jealous lest their hunt should ceaseI
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VO
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They are strong could not they aid usI
Thought the maiden band amazedC
Conquered these could well obey usI
Dreamed the warriors as they gazedC
Falsely answered cunning Star ChildC
Smiling as they slowly metC
While the women's frequent questionsI
Were to laughter's music setC
Who is chief among you tell usI
He is far Is she your queenR
With the shells and deer teeth broideredC
Decked with sheen of gold betweenR
Yea she slays the bear the grizzlyO
Light her empire on us liesI
With the love she rules her courserK
Guides and guards us 'Laughing Eyes'I
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VIO
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Vaunted then the men their Star ChildC
Peerless soldier keen eyed kingL
From the girl he weds shall heroesI
Worthy war god's lineage springL
Know ye not how old enchantmentC
Saw his storm born sire appearS
Armed upon a peak dark liftedC
O'er the snows and glaciers drearS
His the darts divine whose breakingL
Thrice hath some disaster sentC
Shafts that killed and then returningL
Kept his armoury unspentC
Give us of these arrows Bring himT
Cried the maidens Nay they saidC
Come with us and share our huntingL
Ere the autumn leaves are shedC
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VIIO
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Answered they In painted lodgesI
Berries we have dried and meatC
Come again e'er comes the winterS
Let us hear your horses' feetC
And they sprang into their saddlesI
Swept white splashing through a streamU
Red and saffron hued the pageantC
Crossed the blue translucent gleamU
Then unwilling as they vanishedC
Star Child slow to camp returnedC
Told the council of the BlackfeetC
All the marvels he had learnedC
Dressed him in his chief's apparelV
Rode to where within the glenW
Lay the trail that led him onwardC
To the town unknown of menW
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VIIIO
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From each Moya thronged the dwellersI
Hath the chief the arrows sentC
I am Chief behold me trust meO
Lead me to your ruler's tentC
He hath not the shafts enchantedC
Thus unarmed came never chiefO
Bent a thousand bows around himT
Back or die impostor thiefO
Angry yet afraid to angerS
Lest he lose those Laughing EyesI
He obeying vowed to conquerS
Scorning to make vain repliesI
Went and weary seemed the journeyO
All along the yellow plainH
Red as rose leaves in the grassesI
Flushed his dusky cheeks with painH
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IXI
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Grave in silent circles seatedC
'Neath their Moya's smoke tanned coneX
Round the fire his chieftains heard himT
Holding each a pipe's red stoneX
Pausing long they gave their counselV
Different from their wont for hereS
All the young men spoke for kindnessI
All the old men were severeS
But the Braves rode forth at morningL
Half the magic darts they boreS
Pledge so precious of their friendshipY
None had thought to give beforeS
To the huntress nation welcomeJ
Waking song in every tentC
Where the hours were passed in feastingL
And the days to love were lentC
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XI
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Thus the maidens were the victorsI
For to them the warriors cameZ
Laughing Eyes but loved the Star ChildC
When his shafts her own becameZ
Ah but where is man or womanA2
Who may boast of triumph longB2
Nought abides and mighty nationsI
Cannot ever more be strongB2
So each huntress found a masterS
Yielding to her heart's new birthC2
And no more along the prairieO
Beat her steed the sounding earthC2
Yearly yet the Blackfeet womenA2
Meet and dance and sing the dayC
When through love they won and winningL
Freedom passed with love awayC

John Campbell



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