A Memorial Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEDE AFAF GHIH JKLK MNDN OPAP QRDR STUT VWVW XYAY AVZV A2B2C2B2 CB2AB2 C2VB2V B2D2AD2 E2F2C2F2 B2PSP CG2B2H2| Oh thicker deeper darker growing | A |
| The solemn vista to the tomb | B |
| Must know henceforth another shadow | C |
| And give another cypress room | B |
| - | |
| In love surpassing that of brothers | D |
| We walked O friend from childhood's day | E |
| And looking back o'er fifty summers | D |
| Our footprints track a common way | E |
| - | |
| One in our faith and one our longing | A |
| To make the world within our reach | F |
| Somewhat the better for our living | A |
| And gladder for our human speech | F |
| - | |
| Thou heard'st with me the far off voices | G |
| The old beguiling song of fame | H |
| But life to thee was warm and present | I |
| And love was better than a name | H |
| - | |
| To homely joys and loves and friendships | J |
| Thy genial nature fondly clung | K |
| And so the shadow on the dial | L |
| Ran back and left thee always young | K |
| - | |
| And who could blame the generous weakness | M |
| Which only to thyself unjust | N |
| So overprized the worth of others | D |
| And dwarfed thy own with self distrust | N |
| - | |
| All hearts grew warmer in the presence | O |
| Of one who seeking not his own | P |
| Gave freely for the love of giving | A |
| Nor reaped for self the harvest sown | P |
| - | |
| Thy greeting smile was pledge and prelude | Q |
| Of generous deeds and kindly words | R |
| In thy large heart were fair guest chambers | D |
| Open to sunrise and the birds | R |
| - | |
| The task was thine to mould and fashion | S |
| Life's plastic newness into grace | T |
| To make the boyish heart heroic | U |
| And light with thought the maiden's face | T |
| - | |
| O'er all the land in town and prairie | V |
| With bended heads of mourning stand | W |
| The living forms that owe their beauty | V |
| And fitness to thy shaping hand | W |
| - | |
| Thy call has come in ripened manhood | X |
| The noonday calm of heart and mind | Y |
| While I who dreamed of thy remaining | A |
| To mourn me linger still behind | Y |
| - | |
| Live on to own with self upbraiding | A |
| A debt of love still due from me | V |
| The vain remembrance of occasions | Z |
| Forever lost of serving thee | V |
| - | |
| It was not mine among thy kindred | A2 |
| To join the silent funeral prayers | B2 |
| But all that long sad day of summer | C2 |
| My tears of mourning dropped with theirs | B2 |
| - | |
| All day the sea waves sobbed with sorrow | C |
| The birds forgot their merry trills | B2 |
| All day I heard the pines lamenting | A |
| With thine upon thy homestead hills | B2 |
| - | |
| Green be those hillside pines forever | C2 |
| And green the meadowy lowlands be | V |
| And green the old memorial beeches | B2 |
| Name carven in the woods of Lee | V |
| - | |
| Still let them greet thy life companions | B2 |
| Who thither turn their pilgrim feet | D2 |
| In every mossy line recalling | A |
| A tender memory sadly sweet | D2 |
| - | |
| O friend if thought and sense avail not | E2 |
| To know thee henceforth as thou art | F2 |
| That all is well with thee forever | C2 |
| I trust the instincts of my heart | F2 |
| - | |
| Thine be the quiet habitations | B2 |
| Thine the green pastures blossom sown | P |
| And smiles of saintly recognition | S |
| As sweet and tender as thy own | P |
| - | |
| Thou com'st not from the hush and shadow | C |
| To meet us but to thee we come | G2 |
| With thee we never can be strangers | B2 |
| And where thou art must still be home | H2 |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
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About A Memorial
A Memorial is a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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