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)
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