The Freed Islands Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAABCDCCDEFGEFHIJHI KLKKLMNOMNEKEEKPQRRQ EKEEKSTSSU| A FEW brief years have passed away | A |
| Since Britain drove her million slaves | B |
| Beneath the tropic's fiery ray | A |
| God willed their freedom and to day | A |
| Life blooms above those island graves | B |
| He spoke across the Carib Sea | C |
| We heard the clash of breaking chains | D |
| And felt the heart throb of the free | C |
| The first strong pulse of liberty | C |
| Which thrilled along the bondman's veins | D |
| Though long delayed and far and slow | E |
| The Briton's triumph shall be ours | F |
| Wears slavery here a prouder brow | G |
| Than that which twelve short years ago | E |
| Scowled darkly from her island bowers | F |
| Mighty alike for good or ill | H |
| With mother land we fully share | I |
| The Saxon strength the nerve of steel | J |
| The tireless energy of will | H |
| The power to do the pride to dare | I |
| What she has done can we not do | K |
| Our hour and men are both at hand | L |
| The blast which Freedom's angel blew | K |
| O'er her green islands echoes through | K |
| Each valley of our forest land | L |
| Hear it old Europe we have sworn | M |
| The death of slavery When it falls | N |
| Look to your vassals in their turn | O |
| Your poor dumb millions crushed and worn | M |
| Your prisons and your palace walls | N |
| O kingly mockers scoffing show | E |
| What deeds in Freedom's name we do | K |
| Yet know that every taunt ye throw | E |
| Across the waters goads our slow | E |
| Progression towards the right and true | K |
| Not always shall your outraged poor | P |
| Appalled by democratic crime | Q |
| Grind as their fathers ground before | R |
| The hour which sees our prison door | R |
| Swing wide shall be their triumph time | Q |
| On then my brothers every blow | E |
| Ye deal is felt the wide earth through | K |
| Whatever here uplifts the low | E |
| Or humbles Freedom's hateful foe | E |
| Blesses the Old World through the New | K |
| Take heart The promised hour draws near | S |
| I hear the downward beat of wings | T |
| And Freedom's trumpet sounding clear | S |
| 'Joy to the people woe and fear | S |
| To new world tyrants old world kings ' | U |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
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