A Sea Dream Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEDE FGFG HIHJ KLKL MNMN OPOP QRQR STUTT VWXWW LYZYY A2B2C2B2B2 D2ME2MM F2G2H2G2G2 I2J2K2J2J2 L2M2SM2M2 N2WO2WW A2LP2LL Q2TR2TT FS2T2S2 U2V2U2V2 W2X2W2X2 Y2NZ2N A3MB3M J2C3J2C3We saw the slow tides go and come | A |
The curving surf lines lightly drawn | B |
The gray rocks touched with tender bloom | C |
Beneath the fresh blown rose of dawn | B |
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We saw in richer sunsets lost | D |
The sombre pomp of showery noons | E |
And signalled spectral sails that crossed | D |
The weird low light of rising moons | E |
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On stormy eves from cliff and head | F |
We saw the white spray tossed and spurned | G |
While over all in gold and red | F |
Its face of fire the lighthouse turned | G |
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The rail car brought its daily crowds | H |
Half curious half indifferent | I |
Like passing sails or floating clouds | H |
We saw them as they came and went | J |
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But one calm morning as we lay | K |
And watched the mirage lifted wall | L |
Of coast across the dreamy bay | K |
And heard afar the curlew call | L |
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And nearer voices wild or tame | M |
Of airy flock and childish throng | N |
Up from the water's edge there came | M |
Faint snatches of familiar song | N |
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Careless we heard the singer's choice | O |
Of old and common airs at last | P |
The tender pathos of his voice | O |
In one low chanson held us fast | P |
- | |
A song that mingled joy and pain | Q |
And memories old and sadly sweet | R |
While timing to its minor strain | Q |
The waves in lapsing cadence beat | R |
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The waves are glad in breeze and sun | S |
The rocks are fringed with foam | T |
I walk once more a haunted shore | U |
A stranger yet at home | T |
A land of dreams I roam | T |
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Is this the wind the soft sea wind | V |
That stirred thy locks of brown | W |
Are these the rocks whose mosses knew | X |
The trail of thy light gown | W |
Where boy and girl sat down | W |
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I see the gray fort's broken wall | L |
The boats that rock below | Y |
And out at sea the passing sails | Z |
We saw so long ago | Y |
Rose red in morning's glow | Y |
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The freshness of the early time | A2 |
On every breeze is blown | B2 |
As glad the sea as blue the sky | C2 |
The change is ours alone | B2 |
The saddest is my own | B2 |
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A stranger now a world worn man | D2 |
Is he who bears my name | M |
But thou methinks whose mortal life | E2 |
Immortal youth became | M |
Art evermore the same | M |
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Thou art not here thou art not there | F2 |
Thy place I cannot see | G2 |
I only know that where thou art | H2 |
The blessed angels be | G2 |
And heaven is glad for thee | G2 |
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Forgive me if the evil years | I2 |
Have left on me their sign | J2 |
Wash out O soul so beautiful | K2 |
The many stains of mine | J2 |
In tears of love divine | J2 |
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I could not look on thee and live | L2 |
If thou wert by my side | M2 |
The vision of a shining one | S |
The white and heavenly bride | M2 |
Is well to me denied | M2 |
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But turn to me thy dear girl face | N2 |
Without the angel's crown | W |
The wedded roses of thy lips | O2 |
Thy loose hair rippling down | W |
In waves of golden brown | W |
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Look forth once more through space and time | A2 |
And let thy sweet shade fall | L |
In tenderest grace of soul and form | P2 |
On memory's frescoed wall | L |
A shadow and yet all | L |
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Draw near more near forever dear | Q2 |
Where'er I rest or roam | T |
Or in the city's crowded streets | R2 |
Or by the blown sea foam | T |
The thought of thee is home | T |
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At breakfast hour the singer read | F |
The city news with comment wise | S2 |
Like one who felt the pulse of trade | T2 |
Beneath his finger fall and rise | S2 |
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His look his air his curt speech told | U2 |
The man of action not of books | V2 |
To whom the corners made in gold | U2 |
And stocks were more than seaside nooks | V2 |
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Of life beneath the life confessed | W2 |
His song had hinted unawares | X2 |
Of flowers in traffic's ledgers pressed | W2 |
Of human hearts in bulls and bears | X2 |
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But eyes in vain were turned to watch | Y2 |
That face so hard and shrewd and strong | N |
And ears in vain grew sharp to catch | Z2 |
The meaning of that morning song | N |
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In vain some sweet voiced querist sought | A3 |
To sound him leaving as she came | M |
Her baited album only caught | B3 |
A common unromantic name | M |
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No word betrayed the mystery fine | J2 |
That trembled on the singer's tongue | C3 |
He came and went and left no sign | J2 |
Behind him save the song he sung | C3 |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
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