In Quest Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEFGGHHIIJKJL MNNAA OOPPQQRRSSTTUVWWXXI YYZZA2A2B2B2C2C2A| Have I not voyaged friend beloved with thee | A |
| On the great waters of the unsounded sea | A |
| Momently listening with suspended oar | B |
| For the low rote of waves upon a shore | B |
| Changeless as heaven where never fog cloud drifts | C |
| Over its windless wood nor mirage lifts | C |
| The steadfast hills where never birds of doubt | D |
| Sing to mislead and every dream dies out | D |
| And the dark riddles which perplex us here | E |
| In the sharp solvent of its light are clear | F |
| Thou knowest how vain our quest how soon or late | G |
| The baffling tides and circles of debate | G |
| Swept back our bark unto its starting place | H |
| Where looking forth upon the blank gray space | H |
| And round about us seeing with sad eyes | I |
| The same old difficult hills and cloud cold skies | I |
| We said 'This outward search availeth not | J |
| To find Him He is farther than we thought | K |
| Or haply nearer To this very spot | J |
| Whereon we wait this commonplace of home | L |
| As to the well of Jacob He may come | M |
| And tell us all things ' As I listened there | N |
| Through the expectant silences of prayer | N |
| Somewhat I seemed to hear which hath to me | A |
| Been hope strength comfort and I give it thee | A |
| - | |
| 'The riddle of the world is understood | O |
| Only by him who feels that God is good | O |
| As only he can feel who makes his love | P |
| The ladder of his faith and climbs above | P |
| On th' rounds of his best instincts draws no line | Q |
| Between mere human goodness and divine | Q |
| But judging God by what in him is best | R |
| With a child's trust leans on a Father's breast | R |
| And hears unmoved the old creeds babble still | S |
| Of kingly power and dread caprice of will | S |
| Chary of blessing prodigal of curse | T |
| The pitiless doomsman of the universe | T |
| Can Hatred ask for love Can Selfishness | U |
| Invite to self denial Is He less | V |
| Than man in kindly dealing Can He break | W |
| His own great law of fatherhood forsake | W |
| And curse His children Not for earth and heaven | X |
| Can separate tables of the law be given | X |
| No rule can bind which He himself denies | I |
| The truths of time are not eternal lies ' | - |
| - | |
| So heard I and the chaos round me spread | Y |
| To light and order grew and 'Lord ' I said | Y |
| 'Our sins are our tormentors worst of all | Z |
| Felt in distrustful shame that dares not call | Z |
| Upon Thee as our Father We have set | A2 |
| A strange god up but Thou remainest yet | A2 |
| All that I feel of pity Thou hast known | B2 |
| Before I was my best is all Thy own | B2 |
| From Thy great heart of goodness mine but drew | C2 |
| Wishes and prayers but Thou O Lord wilt do | C2 |
| In Thy own time by ways I cannot see | A |
| All that I feel when I am nearest Thee ' | - |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
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