Norembega Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFGF HIHI JJJJ KLM NON P P Q Q R R STST RURV OQOQ JIJI WQW HLHL QRQR XJXJ YJZ A2JA2J JDJD B2C2B2C2 QRQR RA2R D2JD2J TLTL VB2UB2 TJTJ JJJJ

THE winding way the serpent takesA
The mystic water tookB
From where to count its beaded lakesA
The forest sped its brookB
-
A narrow space 'twixt shore and shoreC
For sun or stars to fallD
While evermore behind beforeC
Closed in the forest wallD
-
The dim wood hiding underneathE
Wan flowers without a nameF
Life tangled with decay and deathG
League after league the sameF
-
Unbroken over swamp and hillH
The rounding shadow layI
Save where the river cut at willH
A pathway to the dayI
-
Beside that track of air and lightJ
Weak as a child unweanedJ
At shut of day a Christian knightJ
Upon his henchman leanedJ
-
The embers of the sunset's firesK
Along the clouds burned downL
'I see ' he said 'the domes and spiresM
Of Norembega town '-
-
'Alack the domes O master mineN
Are golden clouds on highO
Yon spire is but the branchless pineN
That cuts the evening sky '-
-
'Oh hush and hark What sounds are theseP
But chants and holy hymns '-
'Thou hear'st the breeze that stirs the treesP
Though all their leafy limbs '-
-
'Is it a chapel bell that fillsQ
The air with its low tone '-
'Thou hear'st the tinkle of the rillsQ
The insect's vesper drone '-
-
'The Christ be praised He sets for meR
A blessed cross in sight '-
'Now nay 't is but yon blasted treeR
With two gaunt arms outright '-
-
'Be it wind so sad or tree so starkS
It mattereth not my knaveT
Methinks to funeral hymns I harkS
The cross is for my graveT
-
'My life is sped I shall not seeR
My home set sails againU
The sweetest eyes of NormandieR
Shall watch for me in vainV
-
'Yet onward still to ear and eyeO
The baffling marvel callsQ
I fain would look before I dieO
On Norembega's wallsQ
-
'So haply it shall be thy partJ
At Christian feet to layI
The mystery of the desert's heartJ
My dead hand plucked awayI
-
'Leave me an hour of rest go thouW
And look from yonder heightsQ
Perchance the valley even nowW
Is starred with city lights '-
-
The henchman climbed the nearest hillH
He saw nor tower nor townL
But through the drear woods lone and stillH
The river rolling downL
-
He heard the stealthy feet of thingsQ
Whose shapes he could not seeR
A flutter as of evil wingsQ
The fall of a dead treeR
-
The pines stood black against the moonX
A sword of fire beyondJ
He heard the wolf howl and the loonX
Laugh from his reedy pondJ
-
He turned him back 'O master dearY
We are but men misledJ
And thou hast sought a city hereZ
To find a grave instead '-
-
'As God shall will what matters whereA2
A true man's cross may standJ
So Heaven be o'er it here as thereA2
In pleasant Norman landJ
-
'These woods perchance no secret hideJ
Of lordly tower and hallD
Yon river in its wanderings wideJ
Has washed no city wallD
-
'Yet mirrored in the sullen streamB2
The holy stars are givenC2
Is Norembega then a dreamB2
Whose waking is in HeavenC2
-
'No builded wonder of these landsQ
My weary eyes shall seeR
A city never made with handsQ
Alone awaiteth meR
-
'' Urbs Syon mystica ' I seeR
Its mansions passing fairA2
' Condita caelo ' let me beR
Dear Lord a dweller there '-
-
Above the dying exile hungD2
The vision of the bardJ
As faltered on his failing tongueD2
The song of good BernardJ
-
The henchman dug at dawn a graveT
Beneath the hemlocks brownL
And to the desert's keeping gaveT
The lord of fief and townL
-
Years after when the Sieur ChamplainV
Sailed up the unknown streamB2
And Norembega proved againU
A shadow and a dreamB2
-
He found the Norman's nameless graveT
Within the hemlock's shadeJ
And stretching wide its arms to saveT
The sign that God had madeJ
-
The cross boughed tree that marked the spotJ
And made it holy groundJ
He needs the earthly city notJ
Who hath the heavenly foundJ

John Greenleaf Whittier



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