Ash Wednesday Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABC DEDEFGFG HIHIJKJK LCLCMKMK NONOPAPA QGQGKRKR STSTUVUV GWGWXYXY| When thou fastest anoint thine head and wash thy face | A |
| that thou appear not unto men to fast but unto thy Father | B |
| which is in secret St Matthew vi | C |
| - | |
| - | |
| Yes deep within and deeper yet | D |
| The rankling shaft of conscience hide | E |
| Quick let the swelling eye forget | D |
| The tears that in the heart abide | E |
| Calm be the voice the aspect bold | F |
| No shuddering pass o'er lip or brow | G |
| For why should Innocence be told | F |
| The pangs that guilty spirits bow | G |
| - | |
| The loving eye that watches thine | H |
| Close as the air that wraps thee round | I |
| Why in thy sorrow should it pine | H |
| Since never of thy sin it found | I |
| And wherefore should the heathen see | J |
| What chains of darkness thee enslave | K |
| And mocking say 'Lo this is he | J |
| Who owned a God that could not save' | K |
| - | |
| Thus oft the mourner's wayward heart | L |
| Tempts him to hide his grief and die | C |
| Too feeble for Confession's smart | L |
| Too proud to bear a pitying eye | C |
| How sweet in that dark hour to fall | M |
| On bosoms waiting to receive | K |
| Our sighs and gently whisper all | M |
| They love us will not God forgive | K |
| - | |
| Else let us keep our fast within | N |
| Till Heaven and we are quite alone | O |
| Then let the grief the shame the sin | N |
| Before the mercy seat be thrown | O |
| Between the porch and altar weep | P |
| Unworthy of the holiest place | A |
| Yet hoping near the shrine to keep | P |
| One lowly cell in sight of grace | A |
| - | |
| Nor fear lest sympathy should fail | Q |
| Hast thou not seen in night hours drear | G |
| When racking thoughts the heart assail | Q |
| The glimmering stars by turns appear | G |
| And from the eternal house above | K |
| With silent news of mercy steal | R |
| So Angels pause on tasks of love | K |
| To look where sorrowing sinners kneel | R |
| - | |
| Or if no Angel pass that way | S |
| He who in secret sees perchance | T |
| May bid His own heart warming ray | S |
| Toward thee stream with kindlier glance | T |
| As when upon His drooping head | U |
| His Father's light was poured from Heaven | V |
| What time unsheltered and unfed | U |
| Far in the wild His steps were driven | V |
| - | |
| High thoughts were with Him in that hour | G |
| Untold unspeakable on earth | W |
| And who can stay the soaring power | G |
| Of spirits weaned from worldly mirth | W |
| While far beyond the sound of praise | X |
| With upward eye they float serene | Y |
| And learn to bear their Saviour's blaze | X |
| When Judgment shall undraw the screen | Y |
John Keble
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Ash Wednesday poem by John Keble
Best Poems of John Keble