Abraham Davenport Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDCCCEF GHIJKH LMCNCCCAOPQRST CUC VFCWCNXYCCZCCCA2 B2CEC2FD2E2F2G2H2I2J 2 CK2L2CG M2KM2KN2TI2I2 LO2LO2XXWW P2 P2Q2R2S2BH2

In the old days a custom laid asideA
With breeches and cocked hats the people sentB
Their wisest men to make the public lawsC
And so from a brown homestead where the SoundD
Drinks the small tribute of the MianasC
Waved over by the woods of RippowamsC
And hallowed by pure lives and tranquil deathsC
Stamford sent up to the councils of the StateE
Wisdom and grace in Abraham DavenportF
-
'T was on a May day of the far old yearG
Seventeen hundred eighty that there fellH
Over the bloom and sweet life of the SpringI
Over the fresh earth and the heaven of noonJ
A horror of great darkness like the nightK
In day of which the Norland sagas tellH
-
The Twilight of the Gods The low hung skyL
Was black with ominous clouds save where its rimM
Was fringed with a dull glow like that which climbsC
The crater's sides from the red hell belowN
Birds ceased to sing and all the barn yard fowlsC
Roosted the cattle at the pasture barsC
Lowed and looked homeward bats on leathern wingsC
Flitted abroad the sounds of labor diedA
Men prayed and women wept all ears grew sharpO
To hear the doom blast of the trumpet shatterP
The black sky that the dreadful face of ChristQ
Might look from the rent clouds not as he lookedR
A loving guest at Bethany but sternS
As Justice and inexorable LawT
-
Meanwhile in the old State House dim as ghostsC
Sat the lawgivers of ConnecticutU
Trembling beneath their legislative robesC
'It is the Lord's Great Day Let us adjourn '-
Some said and then as if with one accordV
All eyes were turned to Abraham DavenportF
He rose slow cleaving with his steady voiceC
The intolerable hush 'This well may beW
The Day of Judgment which the world awaitsC
But be it so or not I only knowN
My present duty and my Lord's commandX
To occupy till He come So at the postY
Where He hath set me in His providenceC
I choose for one to meet Him face to faceC
No faithless servant frightened from my taskZ
But ready when the Lord of the harvest callsC
And therefore with all reverence I would sayC
Let God do His work we will see to oursC
Bring in the candles ' And they brought them inA2
-
Then by the flaring lights the Speaker readB2
Albeit with husky voice and shaking handsC
An act to amend an act to regulateE
The shad and alewive fisheries WhereuponC2
Wisely and well spake Abraham DavenportF
Straight to the question with no figures of speechD2
Save the ten Arab signs yet not withoutE2
The shrewd dry humor natural to the manF2
His awe struck colleagues listening all the whileG2
Between the pauses of his argumentH2
To hear the thunder of the wrath of GodI2
Break from the hollow trumpet of the cloudJ2
-
And there he stands in memory to this dayC
Erect self poised a rugged face half seenK2
Against the background of unnatural darkL2
A witness to the ages as they passC
That simple duty hath no place for fearG
-
-
-
He ceased just then the ocean seemedM2
To lift a half faced moon in sightK
And shore ward o'er the waters gleamedM2
From crest to crest a line of lightK
Such as of old with solemn aweN2
The fishers by Gennesaret sawT
When dry shod o'er it walked the Son of GodI2
Tracking the waves with light where'er his sandals trodI2
-
Silently for a space each eyeL
Upon that sudden glory turnedO2
Cool from the land the breeze blew byL
The tent ropes flapped the long beach churnedO2
Its waves to foam on either handX
Stretched far as sight the hills of sandX
With bays of marsh and capes of bush and treeW
The wood's black shore line loomed beyond the meadowy seaW
-
The lady rose to leave 'One songP2
Or hymn ' they urged 'before we part '-
And she with lips to which belongP2
Sweet intuitions of all artQ2
Gave to the winds of night a strainR2
Which they who heard would hear againS2
And to her voice the solemn ocean lentB
Touching its harp of sand a deep accompanimentH2

John Greenleaf Whittier



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