The Shipbuilders Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDEDE FGFGHIHJ KLKLDMDM NONOKPKP QRQBSHSH TUTUVWVW XPXPYRZR A2B2A2B2B2C2B2C2 D2B2D2B2E2NE2N B2HB2HB2PB2P

The sky is ruddy in the eastA
The earth is gray belowB
And spectral in the river mistC
The ship's white timbers showB
Then let the sounds of measured strokeD
And grating saw beginE
The broad axe to the gnarl d oakD
The mallet to the pinE
-
Hark roars the bellows blast on blastF
The sooty smithy jarsG
And fire sparks rising far and fastF
Are fading with the starsG
All day for us the smith shall standH
Beside that flashing forgeI
All day for us his heavy handH
The groaning anvil scourgeJ
-
From far off hills the panting teamK
For us is toiling nearL
For us the raftsmen down the streamK
Their island barges steerL
Rings out for us the axe man's strokeD
In forests old and stillM
For us the century circled oakD
Falls crashing down his hillM
-
Up up in nobler toil than oursN
No craftsmen bear a partO
We make of Nature's giant powersN
The slaves of human ArtO
Lay rib to rib and beam to beamK
And drive the treenails freeP
Nor faithless joint nor yawning seamK
Shall tempt the searching seaP
-
Where'er the keel of our good shipQ
The sea's rough field shall ploughR
Where'er her tossing spars shall dripQ
With salt spray caught belowB
That ship must heed her master's beckS
Her helm obey his handH
And seamen tread her reeling deckS
As if they trod the landH
-
Her oaken ribs the vulture beakT
Of Northern ice may peelU
The sunken rock and coral peakT
May grate along her keelU
And know we well the painted shellV
We give to wind and waveW
Must float the sailor's citadelV
Or sink the sailor's graveW
-
Ho strike away the bars and blocksX
And set the good ship freeP
Why lingers on these dusty rocksX
The young bride of the seaP
Look how she moves adown the groovesY
In graceful beauty nowR
How lowly on the breast she lovesZ
Sinks down her virgin prowR
-
God bless her wheresoe'er the breezeA2
Her snowy wing shall fanB2
Aside the frozen HebridesA2
Or sultry HindostanB2
Where'er in mart or on the mainB2
With peaceful flag unfurledC2
She helps to wind the silken chainB2
Of commerce round the worldC2
-
Speed on the ship But let her bearD2
No merchandise of sinB2
No groaning cargo of despairD2
Her roomy hold withinB2
No Lethean drug for Eastern landsE2
For poison draught for oursN
But honest fruits of toiling handsE2
And Nature's sun and showersN
-
Be hers the Prairie's golden grainB2
The Desert's golden sandH
The clustered fruits of sunny SpainB2
The spice of Morning landH
Her pathway on the open mainB2
May blessings follow freeP
And glad hearts welcome back againB2
Her white sails from the seaP

John Greenleaf Whittier



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about The Shipbuilders poem by John Greenleaf Whittier


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 4 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets