Nauhaught, The Deacon Poem Rhyme Scheme

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NAUHAUGHT the Indian deacon who of old	A
Dwelt poor but blameless where his narrowing Cape	B
Stretches its shrunk arm out to all the winds	C
And the relentless smiting of the waves	D
Awoke one morning from a pleasant dream	E
Of a good angel dropping in his hand	F
A fair broad gold piece in the name of God	G
	-
He rose and went forth with the early day	H
Far inland where the voices of the waves	D
Mellowed and Mingled with the whispering leaves	I
As through the tangle of the low thick woods	J
He searched his traps Therein nor beast nor bird	K
He found though meanwhile in the reedy pools	L
The otter plashed and underneath the pines	M
The partridge drummed and as his thoughts went back	N
To the sick wife and little child at home	O
What marvel that the poor man felt his faith	P
Too weak to bear its burden like a rope	Q
That strand by strand uncoiling breaks above	R
The hand that grasps it 'Even now O Lord	S
Send me ' he prayed 'the angel of my dream	E
Nauhaught is very poor he cannot wait '	-
	-
Even as he spake he heard at his bare feet	T
A low metallic clink and looking down	U
He saw a dainty purse with disks of gold	A
Crowding its silken net Awhile he held	V
The treasure up before his eyes alone	W
With his great need feeling the wondrous coins	X
Slide through his eager fingers one by one	Y
So then the dream was true The angel brought	Z
One broad piece only should he take all these	A2
Who would be wiser in the blind dumb woods	J
The loser doubtless rich would scarcely miss	B2
This dropped crumb from a table always full	C2
Still while he mused he seemed to hear the cry	D2
Of a starved child the sick face of his wife	E2
Tempted him Heart and flesh in fierce revolt	F2
Urged the wild license of his savage youth	G2
Against his later scruples Bitter toil	H2
Prayer fasting dread of blame and pitiless eyes	I2
To watch his halting had he lost for these	A2
The freedom of the woods the hunting grounds	J2
Of happy spirits for a walled in heaven	Y
Of everlasting psalms One healed the sick	K2
Very far off thousands of moons ago	L2
Had he not prayed him night and day to come	M2
And cure his bed bound wife Was there a hell	N2
Were all his fathers' people writhing there	O2
Like the poor shell fish set to boil alive	P2
Forever dying never If he kept	Q2
This gold so needed would the dreadful God	G
Torment him like a Mohawk's captive stuck	R2
With slow consuming splinters Would the saints	S2
And the white angels dance and laugh to see him	T2
Burn like a pitch pine torch His Christian garb	U2
Seemed falling from him with the fear and shame	V2
Of Adam naked at the cool of day	H
He gazed around A black snake lay in coil	H2
On the hot sand a crow with sidelong eye	D2
Watched from a dead bough All his Indian lore	W2
Of evil blending with a convert's faith	P
In the supernal terrors of the Book	X2
He saw the Tempter in the coiling snake	Y2
And ominous black winged bird and all the while	Z2
The low rebuking of the distant waves	D
Stole in upon him like the voice of God	G
Among the trees of Eden Girding up	A3
His soul's loins with a resolute hand he thrust	B3
The base thought from him 'Nauhaught be a man	C3
Starve if need be but while you live look out	D3
From honest eyes on all men unashamed	E3
God help me I am deacon of the church	F3
A baptized praying Indian Should I do	G3
This secret meanness even the barken knots	H3
Of the old trees would turn to eyes to see it	I3
The birds would tell of it and all the leaves	I
Whisper above me 'Nauhaught is a thief '	-
The sun would know it and the stars that hide	J3
Behind his light would watch me and at night	K3
Follow me with their sharp accusing eyes	I2
Yea thou God seest me ' Then Nauhaught drew	G3
Closer his belt of leather dulling thus	L3
The pain of hunger and walked bravely back	N
To the brown fishing hamlet by the sea	M3
And pausing at the inn door cheerily asked	N3
'Who hath lost aught to day '	-
'I ' said a voice	O3
'Ten golden pieces in a silken purse	P3
My daughter's handiwork ' He looked and to	G3
One stood before him in a coat of frieze	A2
And the glazed bat of a seafaring man	C3
Shrewd faced broad shouldered with no trace of wings	Q3
Marvelling he dropped within the stranger's hand	F
The silken web and turned to go his way	H
But the man said 'A tithe at least is yours	R3
Take it in God's name as an honest man '	-
And as the deacon's dusky fingers closed	S3
Over the golden gift 'Yea in God's name	V2
I take it with a poor man's thanks ' he said	T3
So down the street that like a river of sand	F
Ran white in sunshine to the summer sea	M3
He sought his home singing and praising God	G
And when his neighbors in their careless way	H
Spoke of the owner of the silken purse	P3
A Wellfleet skipper known in every port	U3
That the Cape opens in its sandy wall	V3
He answered with a wise smile to himself	W3
'I saw the angel where they see a man '	-

John Greenleaf Whittier

Nauhaught, The Deacon Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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