The Answer Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CBCB DEDE FGFG HIJI KBKB LMLM N NO PQPQ RSRS MTMT MUMU PVWV MXMX YZYZ A2ZB2Z C2VC2| Spare me dread angel of reproof | A |
| And let the sunshine weave to day | B |
| Its gold threads in the warp and woof | A |
| Of life so poor and gray | B |
| - | |
| Spare me awhile the flesh is weak | C |
| These lingering feet that fain would stray | B |
| Among the flowers shall some day seek | C |
| The strait and narrow way | B |
| - | |
| Take off thy ever watchful eye | D |
| The awe of thy rebuking frown | E |
| The dullest slave at times must sigh | D |
| To fling his burdens down | E |
| - | |
| To drop his galley's straining oar | F |
| And press in summer warmth and calm | G |
| The lap of some enchanted shore | F |
| Of blossom and of balm | G |
| - | |
| Grudge not my life its hour of bloom | H |
| My heart its taste of long desire | I |
| This day be mine be those to come | J |
| As duty shall require | I |
| - | |
| The deep voice answered to my own | K |
| Smiting my selfish prayers away | B |
| 'To morrow is with God alone | K |
| And man hath but to day | B |
| - | |
| 'Say not thy fond vain heart within | L |
| The Father's arm shall still be wide | M |
| When from these pleasant ways of sin | L |
| Thou turn'st at eventide | M |
| - | |
| ''Cast thyself down ' the tempter saith | N |
| 'And angels shall thy feet upbear ' | - |
| He bids thee make a lie of faith | N |
| And blasphemy of prayer | O |
| - | |
| 'Though God be good and free be heaven | P |
| No force divine can love compel | Q |
| And though the song of sins forgiven | P |
| May sound through lowest hell | Q |
| - | |
| 'The sweet persuasion of His voice | R |
| Respects thy sanctity of will | S |
| He giveth day thou hast thy choice | R |
| To walk in darkness still | S |
| - | |
| 'As one who turning from the light | M |
| Watches his own gray shadow fall | T |
| Doubting upon his path of night | M |
| If there be day at all | T |
| - | |
| 'No word of doom may shut thee out | M |
| No wind of wrath may downward whirl | U |
| No swords of fire keep watch about | M |
| The open gates of pearl | U |
| - | |
| 'A tenderer light than moon or sun | P |
| Than song of earth a sweeter hymn | V |
| May shine and sound forever on | W |
| And thou be deaf and dim | V |
| - | |
| 'Forever round the Mercy seat | M |
| The guiding lights of Love shall burn | X |
| But what if habit bound thy feet | M |
| Shall lack the will to turn | X |
| - | |
| 'What if thine eye refuse to see | Y |
| Thine ear of Heaven's free welcome fail | Z |
| And thou a willing captive be | Y |
| Thyself thy own dark jail | Z |
| - | |
| 'Oh doom beyond the saddest guess | A2 |
| As the long years of God unroll | Z |
| To make thy dreary selfishness | B2 |
| The prison of a soul | Z |
| - | |
| 'To doubt the love that fain would break | C2 |
| The fetters from thy self bound limb | V |
| And dream that God can thee forsake | C2 |
| As thou forsakest Him ' | - |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
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