The Cypress-tree Of Ceylon Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDED FGAG HIJI KALA MNON APQP RSCS ATST UDVD AWXW YZAZ A2B2C2B2 D2CD2C EE2 AE2 F2G2C2H2 KRUR| THEY sat in silent watchfulness | A |
| The sacred cypress tree about | B |
| And from beneath old wrinkled brows | A |
| Their failing eyes looked out | B |
| - | |
| Gray Age and Sickness waiting there | C |
| Through weary night and lingering day | D |
| Grim as the idols at their side | E |
| And motionless as they | D |
| - | |
| Unheeded in the boughs above | F |
| The song of Ceylon's birds was sweet | G |
| Unseen of them the island flowers | A |
| Bloomed brightly at their feet | G |
| - | |
| O'er them the tropic night storm swept | H |
| The thunder crashed on rock and hill | I |
| The cloud fire on their eyeballs blazed | J |
| Yet there they waited still | I |
| - | |
| What was the world without to them | K |
| The Moslem's sunset call the dance | A |
| Of Ceylon's maids the passing gleam | L |
| Of battle flag and lance | A |
| - | |
| They waited for that falling leaf | M |
| Of which the wandering Jogees sing | N |
| Which lends once more to wintry age | O |
| The greenness of its spring | N |
| - | |
| Oh if these poor and blinded ones | A |
| In trustful patience wait to feel | P |
| O'er torpid pulse and failing limb | Q |
| A youthful freshness steal | P |
| - | |
| Shall we who sit beneath that Tree | R |
| Whose healing leaves of life are shed | S |
| In answer to the breath of prayer | C |
| Upon the waiting head | S |
| - | |
| Not to restore our failing forms | A |
| And build the spirit's broken shrine | T |
| But on the fainting soul to shed | S |
| A light and life divine | T |
| - | |
| Shall we grow weary in our watch | U |
| And murmur at the long delay | D |
| Impatient of our Father's time | V |
| And His appointed way | D |
| - | |
| Or shall the stir of outward things | A |
| Allure and claim the Christian's eye | W |
| When on the heathen watcher's ear | X |
| Their powerless murmurs die | W |
| - | |
| Alas a deeper test of faith | Y |
| Than prison cell or martyr's stake | Z |
| The self abasing watchfulness | A |
| Of silent prayer may make | Z |
| - | |
| We gird us bravely to rebuke | A2 |
| Our erring brother in the wrong | B2 |
| And in the ear of Pride and Power | C2 |
| Our warning voice is strong | B2 |
| - | |
| Easier to smite with Peter's sword | D2 |
| Than 'watch one hour' in humbling prayer | C |
| Life's 'great things ' like the Syrian lord | D2 |
| Our hearts can do and dare | C |
| - | |
| But oh we shrink from Jordan's side | E |
| From waters which alone can save | E2 |
| - | |
| And murmur for Abana's banks | A |
| And Pharpar's brighter wave | E2 |
| - | |
| O Thou who in the garden's shade | F2 |
| Didst wake Thy weary ones again | G2 |
| Who slumbered at that fearful hour | C2 |
| Forgetful of Thy pain | H2 |
| - | |
| Bend o'er us now as over them | K |
| And set our sleep bound spirits free | R |
| Nor leave us slumbering in the watch | U |
| Our souls should keep with Thee | R |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
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