The Law Of Death Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDCC EEFFGGBBHH BBBBB IIIHHHHBB JJKKBBLLBBBBCCMMHHII BBIIBBBBIINOBB BBThe song of Kilvani fairest she | A |
In all the land of Savatthi | B |
She had one child as sweet and gay | C |
And dear to her as the light of day | C |
She was so young and he so fair | D |
The same bright eyes and the same dark hair | D |
To see them by the blossomy way | C |
They seemed two children at their play | C |
- | |
There came a death dart from the sky | E |
Kilvani saw her darling die | E |
The glimmering shade his eyes invades | F |
Out of his cheek the red bloom fades | F |
His warm heart feels the icy chill | G |
The round limbs shudder and are still | G |
And yet Kilvani held him fast | B |
Long after life's last pulse was past | B |
As if her kisses could restore | H |
The smile gone out forevermore | H |
- | |
But when she saw her child was dead | B |
She scattered ashes on her head | B |
And seized the small corpse pale and sweet | B |
And rushing wildly through the street | B |
She sobbing fell at Buddha's feet | B |
- | |
Master all helpful help me now | I |
Here at thy feet I humbly bow | I |
Have mercy Buddha help me now | I |
She groveled on the marble floor | H |
And kissed the dead child o'er and o'er | H |
And suddenly upon the air | H |
There fell the answer to her prayer | H |
Bring me to night a lotus tied | B |
With thread from a house where none has died | B |
- | |
She rose and laughed with thankful joy | J |
Sure that the god would save the boy | J |
She found a lotus by the stream | K |
She plucked it from its noonday dream | K |
And then from door to door she fared | B |
To ask what house by Death was spared | B |
Her heart grew cold to see the eyes | L |
Of all dilate with slow surprise | L |
Kilvani thou hast lost thy head | B |
Nothing can help a child that's dead | B |
There stands not by the Ganges' side | B |
A house where none hath ever died | B |
Thus through the long and weary day | C |
From every door she bore away | C |
Within her heart and on her arm | M |
A heavier load a deeper harm | M |
By gates of gold and ivory | H |
By wattled huts of poverty | H |
The same refrain heard poor Kilvani | I |
The living are few the dead are many | I |
- | |
The evening came so still and fleet | B |
And overtook her hurrying feet | B |
And heartsick by the sacred fane | I |
She fell and prayed the god again | I |
She sobbed and beat her bursting breast | B |
Ah thou hast mocked me Mightiest | B |
Lo I have wandered far and wide | B |
There stands no house where none hath died | B |
And Buddha answered in a tone | I |
Soft as a flute at twilight blown | I |
But grand as heaven and strong as death | N |
To him who hears with ears of faith | O |
Child thou art answered Murmur not | B |
Bow and accept the common lot | B |
- | |
Kilvani heard with reverence meet | B |
And laid her child at Buddha's feet | B |
John Hay
(1)
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