How The Robin Came Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDB EEFFGGHH IIJJK LLMNOPPOJQQ RRSSTT UUUTTVVWWJXXJYYZZJJA 2A2JJQ B2C2B2C2D2E2B2B2F2F2 RR| AN ALGONQUIN LEGEND | A |
| - | |
| HAPPY young friends sit by me | B |
| Under May's blown apple tree | B |
| While these home birds in and out | C |
| Through the blossoms flit about | C |
| Hear a story strange and old | D |
| By the wild red Indians told | D |
| How the robin came to be | B |
| - | |
| Once a great chief left his son | E |
| Well beloved his only one | E |
| When the boy was well nigh grown | F |
| In the trial lodge alone | F |
| Left for tortures long and slow | G |
| Youths like him must undergo | G |
| Who their pride of manhood test | H |
| Lacking water food and rest | H |
| - | |
| Seven days the fast he kept | I |
| Seven nights he never slept | I |
| Then the young boy wrung with pain | J |
| Weak from nature's overstrain | J |
| Faltering moaned a low complaint | K |
| 'Spare me father for I faint ' | - |
| But the chieftain haughty eyed | L |
| Hid his pity in his pride | L |
| 'You shall be a hunter good | M |
| Knowing never lack of food | N |
| You shall be a warrior great | O |
| Wise as fox and strong as bear | P |
| Many scalps your belt shall wear | P |
| If with patient heart you wait | O |
| Bravely till your task is done | J |
| Better you should starving die | Q |
| Than that boy and squaw should cry | Q |
| Shame upon your father's son ' | - |
| - | |
| When next morn the sun's first rays | R |
| Glistened on the hemlock sprays | R |
| Straight that lodge the old chief sought | S |
| And boiled sainp and moose meat brought | S |
| 'Rise and eat my son ' he said | T |
| Lo he found the poor boy dead | T |
| - | |
| As with grief his grave they made | U |
| And his bow beside him laid | U |
| Pipe and knife and wampum braid | U |
| On the lodge top overhead | T |
| Preening smooth its breast of red | T |
| And the brown coat that it wore | V |
| Sat a bird unknown before | V |
| And as if with human tongue | W |
| 'Mourn me not ' it said or sung | W |
| 'I a bird am still your son | J |
| Happier than if hunter fleet | X |
| Or a brave before your feet | X |
| Laying scalps in battle won | J |
| Friend of man my song shall cheer | Y |
| Lodge and corn land hovering near | Y |
| To each wigwam I shall bring | Z |
| Tidings of the corning spring | Z |
| Every child my voice shall know | J |
| In the moon of melting snow | J |
| When the maple's red bud swells | A2 |
| And the wind flower lifts its bells | A2 |
| As their fond companion | J |
| Men shall henceforth own your son | J |
| And my song shall testify | Q |
| That of human kin am I ' | - |
| - | |
| Thus the Indian legend saith | B2 |
| How at first the robin came | C2 |
| With a sweeter life from death | B2 |
| Bird for boy and still the same | C2 |
| If my young friends doubt that this | D2 |
| Is the robin's genesis | E2 |
| Not in vain is still the myth | B2 |
| If a truth be found therewith | B2 |
| Unto gentleness belong | F2 |
| Gifts unknown to pride and wrong | F2 |
| Happier far than hate is praise | R |
| He who sings than he who slays | R |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About How The Robin Came
How The Robin Came is a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about How The Robin Came poem by John Greenleaf Whittier
Best Poems of John Greenleaf Whittier