The Watchers Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCCCDDDEEFGGGHHHII IJJJKKLMMMNNNDDDOOOP PPOOOIILOOOQQLOOOOOO IIIOOL| BESIDE a stricken field I stood | A |
| On the torn turf on grass and wood | A |
| Hung heavily the dew of blood | B |
| Still in their fresh mounds lay the slain | C |
| But all the air was quick with pain | C |
| And gusty sighs and tearful rain | C |
| Two angels each with drooping head | D |
| And folded wings and noiseless tread | D |
| Watched by that valley of the dead | D |
| The one with forehead saintly bland | E |
| And lips of blessing not command | E |
| Leaned weeping on her olive wand | F |
| The other's brows were scarred and knit | G |
| His restless eyes were watch fires lit | G |
| His hands for battle gauntlets fit | G |
| 'How long ' I knew the voice of Peace | H |
| 'Is there no respite no release | H |
| When shall the hopeless quarrel cease | H |
| 'O Lord how long One human soul | I |
| Is more than any parchment scroll | I |
| Or any flag thy winds unroll | I |
| 'What price was Ellsworth's young and brave | J |
| How weigh the gift that Lyon gave | J |
| Or count the cost of Winthrop's grave | J |
| 'O brother if thine eye can see | K |
| Tell how and when the end shall be | K |
| What hope remains for thee and me ' | L |
| Then Freedom sternly said 'I shun | M |
| No strife nor pang beneath the sun | M |
| When human rights are staked and won | M |
| 'I knelt with Ziska's hunted flock | N |
| I watched in Toussaint's cell of rock | N |
| I walked with Sidney to the block | N |
| 'The moor of Marston felt my tread | D |
| Through Jersey snows the march I led | D |
| My voice Magenta's charges sped | D |
| 'But now through weary day and night | O |
| I watch a vague and aimless fight | O |
| For leave to strike one blow aright | O |
| 'On either side my foe they own | P |
| One guards through love his ghastly throne | P |
| And one through fear to reverence grown | P |
| 'Why wait we longer mocked betrayed | O |
| By open foes or those afraid | O |
| To speed thy coming through my aid | O |
| 'Why watch to see who win or fall | I |
| I shake the dust against them all | I |
| I leave them to their senseless brawl ' | L |
| 'Nay ' Peace implored 'yet longer wait | O |
| The doom is near the stake is great | O |
| God knoweth if it be too late | O |
| 'Still wait and watch the way prepare | Q |
| Where I with folded wings of prayer | Q |
| May follow weaponless and bare ' | L |
| 'Too late ' the stern sad voice replied | O |
| 'Too late ' its mournful echo sighed | O |
| In low lament the answer died | O |
| A rustling as of wings in flight | O |
| An upward gleam of lessening white | O |
| So passed the vision sound and sight | O |
| But round me like a silver bell | I |
| Rung down the listening sky to tell | I |
| Of holy help a sweet voice fell | I |
| 'Still hope and trust ' it sang 'the rod | O |
| Must fall the wine press must be trod | O |
| But all is possible with God ' | L |
John Greenleaf Whittier
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