The Star Of Bethlehem Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IAIA JKJK LMLM NFNF FMFM OPOQ RSRS FFFF NHN TUTU MVMV WXYX ZHZH A2B2A2B2 C2HC2H QD2E2D2

Where Time the measure of his hoursA
By changeful bud and blossom keepsB
And like a young bride crowned with flowersA
Fair Shiraz in her garden sleepsB
-
Where to her poet's turban stoneC
The Spring her gift of flowers impartsD
Less sweet than those his thoughts have sownC
In the warm soil of Persian heartsD
-
There sat the stranger where the shadeE
Of scattered date trees thinly layF
While in the hot clear heaven delayedE
The long and still and weary dayF
-
Strange trees and fruits above him hungG
Strange odors filled the sultry airH
Strange birds upon the branches swungG
Strange insect voices murmured thereH
-
And strange bright blossoms shone aroundI
Turned sunward from the shadowy bowersA
As if the Gheber's soul had foundI
A fitting home in Iran's flowersA
-
Whate'er he saw whate'er he heardJ
Awakened feelings new and sadK
No Christian garb nor Christian wordJ
Nor church with Sabbath bell chimes gladK
-
But Moslem graves with turban stonesL
And mosque spires gleaming white in viewM
And graybeard Mollahs in low tonesL
Chanting their Koran service throughM
-
The flowers which smiled on either handN
Like tempting fiends were such as theyF
Which once o'er all that Eastern landN
As gifts on demon altars layF
-
As if the burning eye of BaalF
The servant of his Conqueror knewM
From skies which knew no cloudy veilF
The Sun's hot glances smote him throughM
-
'Ah me ' the lonely stranger saidO
'The hope which led my footsteps onP
And light from heaven around them shedO
O'er weary wave and waste is goneQ
-
'Where are the harvest fields all whiteR
For Truth to thrust her sickle inS
Where flock the souls like doves in flightR
From the dark hiding place of sinS
-
'A silent horror broods o'er allF
The burden of a hateful spellF
The very flowers around recallF
The hoary magi's rites of hellF
-
'And what am I o'er such a landN
The banner of the Cross to bearH
Dear Lord uphold me with Thy handN
Thy strength with human weakness share '-
-
He ceased for at his very feetT
In mild rebuke a floweret smiledU
How thrilled his sinking heart to greetT
The Star flower of the Virgin's childU
-
Sown by some wandering Frank it drewM
Its life from alien air and earthV
And told to Paynim sun and dewM
The story of the Saviour's birthV
-
From scorching beams in kindly moodW
The Persian plants its beauty screenedX
And on its pagan sisterhoodY
In love the Christian floweret leanedX
-
With tears of joy the wanderer feltZ
The darkness of his long despairH
Before that hallowed symbol meltZ
Which God's dear love had nurtured thereH
-
From Nature's face that simple flowerA2
The lines of sin and sadness sweptB2
And Magian pile and Paynim bowerA2
In peace like that of Eden sleptB2
-
Each Moslem tomb and cypress oldC2
Looked holy through the sunset airH
And angel like the Muezzin toldC2
From tower and mosque the hour of prayerH
-
With cheerful steps the morrow's dawnQ
From Shiraz saw the stranger partD2
The Star flower of the Virgin BornE2
Still blooming in his hopeful heartD2

John Greenleaf Whittier



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