The Brother Of Mercy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBACC DEDFFGGHHII JKKLLGGHMNHOPPOJJQRQ R STTUAAUJJVVVWWXXYYZZ A2A2B2B2PPC2D2E2E2NN U F2F2 G2H2H2I2J2 K2K2 L2M2L2M2N2 O2Piero Luca known of all the town | A |
As the gray porter by the Pitti wall | B |
Where the noon shadows of the gardens fall | B |
Sick and in dolor waited to lay down | A |
His last sad burden and beside his mat | C |
The barefoot monk of La Certosa sat | C |
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Unseen in square and blossoming garden drifted | D |
Soft sunset lights through green Val d'Arno sifted | E |
Unheard below the living shuttles shifted | D |
Backward and forth and wove in love or strife | F |
In mirth or pain the mottled web of life | F |
But when at last came upward from the street | G |
Tinkle of bell and tread of measured feet | G |
The sick man started strove to rise in vain | H |
Sinking back heavily with a moan of pain | H |
And the monk said ''T is but the Brotherhood | I |
Of Mercy going on some errand good | I |
Their black masks by the palace wall I see ' | - |
Piero answered faintly 'Woe is me | J |
This day for the first time in forty years | K |
In vain the bell hath sounded in my ears | K |
Calling me with my brethren of the mask | L |
Beggar and prince alike to some new task | L |
Of love or pity haply from the street | G |
To bear a wretch plague stricken or with feet | G |
Hushed to the quickened ear and feverish brain | H |
To tread the crowded lazaretto's floors | M |
Down the long twilight of the corridors | N |
Midst tossing arms and faces full of pain | H |
I loved the work it was its own reward | O |
I never counted on it to offset | P |
My sins which are many or make less my debt | P |
To the free grace and mercy of our Lord | O |
But somehow father it has come to be | J |
In these long years so much a part of me | J |
I should not know myself if lacking it | Q |
But with the work the worker too would die | R |
And in my place some other self would sit | Q |
Joyful or sad what matters if not I | R |
And now all's over Woe is me ' 'My son ' | - |
The monk said soothingly 'thy work is done | S |
And no more as a servant but the guest | T |
Of God thou enterest thy eternal rest | T |
No toil no tears no sorrow for the lost | U |
Shall mar thy perfect bliss Thou shalt sit down | A |
Clad in white robes and wear a golden crown | A |
Forever and forever ' Piero tossed | U |
On his sick pillow 'Miserable me | J |
I am too poor for such grand company | J |
The crown would be too heavy for this gray | V |
Old head and God forgive me if I say | V |
It would be hard to sit there night and day | V |
Like an image in the Tribune doing naught | W |
With these hard hands that all my life have wrought | W |
Not for bread only but for pity's sake | X |
I'm dull at prayers I could not keep awake | X |
Counting my beads Mine's but a crazy head | Y |
Scarce worth the saving if all else be dead | Y |
And if one goes to heaven without a heart | Z |
God knows he leaves behind his better part | Z |
I love my fellow men the worst I know | A2 |
I would do good to Will death change me so | A2 |
That I shall sit among the lazy saints | B2 |
Turning a deaf ear to the sore complaints | B2 |
Of souls that suffer Why I never yet | P |
Left a poor dog in the strada hard beset | P |
Or ass o'erladen Must I rate man less | C2 |
Than dog or ass in holy selfishness | D2 |
Methinks Lord pardon if the thought be sin | E2 |
The world of pain were better if therein | E2 |
One's heart might still be human and desires | N |
Of natural pity drop upon its fires | N |
Some cooling tears ' | - |
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Thereat the pale monk crossed | U |
His brow and muttering 'Madman thou art lost ' | - |
Took up his pyx and fled and left alone | F2 |
The sick man closed his eyes with a great groan | F2 |
That sank into a prayer 'Thy will be done ' | - |
Then was he made aware by soul or ear | G2 |
Of somewhat pure and holy bending o'er him | H2 |
And of a voice like that of her who bore him | H2 |
Tender and most compassionate 'Never fear | I2 |
For heaven is love as God himself is love | J2 |
Thy work below shall be thy work above ' | - |
And when he looked lo in the stern monk's place | K2 |
He saw the shining of an angel's face | K2 |
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The Traveller broke the pause 'I've seen | L2 |
The Brothers down the long street steal | M2 |
Black silent masked the crowd between | L2 |
And felt to doff my hat and kneel | M2 |
With heart if not with knee in prayer | N2 |
For blessings on their pious care ' | - |
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Reader wiped his glasses 'Friends of mine | O2 |
I'll try our home brewed next instead of foreign wine ' | - |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
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