The Lady's Rock Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDDED FGHGBDBD IJKJDDLD DMDMDDND OBPBKDDD QDRDDSDS TUDUDVWV XBYBDZDZ A2DBDDDB2D C2D2E2D2F2G2DG2 DBDBVDDD DWSWDBDB DGDGH2AI2A J2DEDK2DG2D DDL2DF2FM2F DCDCDDBD

A brother's eye had seen the griefA
That Duart's lady boreB
His boat with sail half raised flies downC
The sound by green LismoreB
Ahaladah AhaladahD
Why speeds your boat so fastD
No scene of joy shall light your trackE
Adown the spray strewn blastD
-
The very trees upon the isleF
Rock to and fro and wailG
The very birds cry sad and shrillH
Storm driven where you sailG
O when for yon dim mainland shoreB
You launched your keel to startD
You knew not of the load 'twill bearB
The heavier load your heartD
-
See what is that which yonder gleamsI
Where skarts alone make homeJ
Is that but one oft breaking seaK
Some frequent fount of foamJ
The morn is dark and indistinctD
Is all through drift and cloudD
Around the rock white waters tossL
As flaps in wind a shroudD
-
It cannot be a leaping jetD
Nor form of rock or waveM
There stands some being saved by GodD
In mercy from the graveM
Down with the sail out oars the boatD
Can reach the leeward sideD
Mother of Heaven look you menN
Where breaks that roaring tideD
-
A living woman do I dreamO
Or stands my sister thereB
Where only at the middle ebbP
The shelving ledge is bareB
O white as surf that sweeps her kneeK
She falls but not to dieD
Ahaladah is at her sideD
He bears her up on highD
-
Away from Duart now he steersQ
Why curses he its lordD
Why flee to Inveraray's strengthR
As though he feared his swordD
Proud triumph's notes were often heardD
Where Aray's waters singS
And mourners there have often weptD
The slain for faith and kingS
-
But never would that lady's lipsT
There speak her grievous woeU
Though in her chamber in the nightD
Her frequent tears would flowU
She dreamt of wrong where love was soughtD
Of crafty cruel eyesV
Of one steep stair of grasping handsW
That stifled piteous criesV
-
Of wind which tore the hissing wavesX
And howled o'er mountains bareB
Where swollen burns in feathery cloudsY
Were dashed into the airB
Of one wet rock of horror wildD
When she was left aloneZ
Till madness seemed to whelm her thoughtD
And with a shuddering moanZ
-
Again she heard the surges rushA2
And where she shrinking turnedD
The seaweed there like woman's hairB
The murderous billows spurnedD
Again the night and wind were joinedD
To mock her hope of aidD
Till shrieking she awoke where onceB2
She slept a happy maidD
-
But none would she accuse and dumbC2
Rebuked the vengeance callD2
Till one dark eve at supper timeE2
Within the old dim hallD2
She heard some whisper and she sawF2
Her brother leave his placeG2
Go forth and entering beckon outD
A band with stern set faceG2
-
Again he came and o'er her bentD
And whispered Sister dearB
Let fall your veil about your headD
Nor tremble when you hearB
That Duart comes in mourner's guiseV
Lo there he takes his seatD
Chief tell us why your mien is sadD
When friends and kinsmen meetD
-
My woes are great my wife lies deadD
But yester week these handsW
Closed her sweet eyes and now I bringS
Her body to your landsW
Then was the arras drawn asideD
And girt with wake lights drearB
Beneath the archway's carven vaultD
Was borne a white crossed bierB
-
And Duart rose his shifting eyeD
Moved like a marsh fire paleG
But circling back still restless scannedD
The lady of the veilG
Then through the silence broke a voiceH2
Know you that lady chiefA
She too a guest with us like youI2
Well knows the pangs of griefA
-
You come from far bring wine To eachJ2
The ruddy goblet passedD
The lady raised her hand and backE
The heavy veil she castD
Strong Duart reeled as from a strokeK2
He stared as at the deadD
How could her glance o'er that dark faceG2
Such deathly palor spreadD
-
Your play is out ah cursed fiendD
Ahaladah cried loudD
Your death shall be no phantom falseL2
No empty mask your shroudD
If hospitality's high lawF2
Here shields your life awhileF
By all the saints you yet shall feelM2
The vengeance of ArgyllF
-
-
-
In Edinburgh Duart's LordD
Strides down the shadowed townC
The white moon glints on roofs o'erheadD
And on St Giles's crownC
Another step is on the streetD
The watchmen hear no cryD
But drenched in blood lies Duart whereB
Ahaladah passed byD

John Campbell



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