The Over-heart Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBAB ACCAC DEEDE FEEFE EGGEG HAAHA AAAAA IAAIA JAAJA DKKDK LMMLM AAAAA ENNEN| Above below in sky and sod | A |
| In leaf and spar in star and man | B |
| Well might the wise Athenian scan | B |
| The geometric signs of God | A |
| The measured order of His plan | B |
| - | |
| And India's mystics sang aright | A |
| Of the One Life pervading all | C |
| One Being's tidal rise and fall | C |
| In soul and form in sound and sight | A |
| Eternal outflow and recall | C |
| - | |
| God is and man in guilt and fear | D |
| The central fact of Nature owns | E |
| Kneels trembling by his altar stones | E |
| And darkly dreams the ghastly smear | D |
| Of blood appeases and atones | E |
| - | |
| Guilt shapes the Terror deep within | F |
| The human heart the secret lies | E |
| Of all the hideous deities | E |
| And painted on a ground of sin | F |
| The fabled gods of torment rise | E |
| - | |
| And what is He The ripe grain nods | E |
| The sweet dews fall the sweet flowers blow | G |
| But darker signs His presence show | G |
| The earthquake and the storm are God's | E |
| And good and evil interflow | G |
| - | |
| O hearts of love O souls that turn | H |
| Like sunflowers to the pure and best | A |
| To you the truth is manifest | A |
| For they the mind of Christ discern | H |
| Who lean like John upon His breast | A |
| - | |
| In him of whom the sibyl told | A |
| For whom the prophet's harp was toned | A |
| Whose need the sage and magian owned | A |
| The loving heart of God behold | A |
| The hope for which the ages groaned | A |
| - | |
| Fade pomp of dreadful imagery | I |
| Wherewith mankind have deified | A |
| Their hate and selfishness and pride | A |
| Let the scared dreamer wake to see | I |
| The Christ of Nazareth at his side | A |
| - | |
| What doth that holy Guide require | J |
| No rite of pain nor gift of blood | A |
| But man a kindly brotherhood | A |
| Looking where duty is desire | J |
| To Him the beautiful and good | A |
| - | |
| Gone be the faithlessness of fear | D |
| And let the pitying heaven's sweet rain | K |
| Wash out the altar's bloody stain | K |
| The law of Hatred disappear | D |
| The law of Love alone remain | K |
| - | |
| How fall the idols false and grim | L |
| And to their hideous wreck above | M |
| The emblems of the Lamb and Dove | M |
| Man turns from God not God from him | L |
| And guilt in suffering whispers Love | M |
| - | |
| The world sits at the feet of Christ | A |
| Unknowing blind and unconsoled | A |
| It yet shall touch His garment's fold | A |
| And feel the heavenly Alchemist | A |
| Transform its very dust to gold | A |
| - | |
| The theme befitting angel tongues | E |
| Beyond a mortal's scope has grown | N |
| O heart of mine with reverence own | N |
| The fulness which to it belongs | E |
| And trust the unknown for the known | N |
John Greenleaf Whittier
(1)
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About The Over-heart
The Over-heart is a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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