The Slaves Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBCAB DEFCDE GAHCGA IDBCIDThe tall slaves bow if that capricious King | A |
But glances as he passes | B |
Their dark hoods drawing over abashed faces | B |
They bow humbly unappealingly | C |
The dark robes round their shuddering bodies cling | A |
They bow and but whisper as he passes | B |
- | |
They have not learned to look into his eyes | D |
If he insults to answer | E |
To stand with head erect and angry arching bosom | F |
They bow humbly unappealingly | C |
As though he mastered earth and the violet inky skies | D |
And whisper piteously for only answer | E |
- | |
So they stand tall slaves ashamed of their great height | G |
And if he comes raving | A |
Shouting from the west furious and moody | H |
They bow more humbly unappealingly | C |
Ashamed to remember how they lived in that calm light | G |
They droop until he passes tired of raving | A |
- | |
Only when he's gone they lift their darkened brows | I |
Light comes back to their eyes | D |
Their leaves caress the light the light laves their branches | B |
They move loverlike appealingly | C |
Slaves now no more the poplars lift and shake their boughs | I |
And there's a heaven of evening in their eyes | D |
John Freeman
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