First Sunday After Christmas Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AB CCDEED FGHIIH JJKFGK LLFMMF NNOIIO PPQNNQ RRSTTS IICUUC VVWRRW XXVYZV| So the sun returned ten degrees by which degrees it was | A |
| gone down Isaiah xxxviii compare Josh x | B |
| - | |
| - | |
| 'Tis true of old the unchanging sun | C |
| His daily course refused to run | C |
| The pale moon hurrying to the west | D |
| Paused at a mortal's call to aid | E |
| The avenging storm of war that laid | E |
| Seven guilty realms at once on earth's defiled breast | D |
| - | |
| But can it be one suppliant tear | F |
| Should stay the ever moving sphere | G |
| A sick man's lowly breathed sigh | H |
| When from the world he turns away | I |
| And hides his weary eyes to pray | I |
| Should change your mystic dance ye wanderers of the sky | H |
| - | |
| We too O Lord would fain command | J |
| As then Thy wonder working hand | J |
| And backward force the waves of Time | K |
| That now so swift and silent bear | F |
| Our restless bark from year to year | G |
| Help us to pause and mourn to Thee our tale of crime | K |
| - | |
| Bright hopes that erst the bosom warmed | L |
| And vows too pure to be performed | L |
| And prayers blown wide by gales of care | F |
| These and such faint half waking dreams | M |
| Like stormy lights on mountain streams | M |
| Wavering and broken all athwart the conscience glare | F |
| - | |
| How shall we 'scape the o'erwhelming Past | N |
| Can spirits broken joys o'ercast | N |
| And eyes that never more may smile | O |
| Can these th' avenging bolt delay | I |
| Or win us back one little day | I |
| The bitterness of death to soften and beguile | O |
| - | |
| Father and Lover of our souls | P |
| Though darkly round Thine anger rolls | P |
| Thy sunshine smiles beneath the gloom | Q |
| Thou seek'st to warn us not confound | N |
| Thy showers would pierce the hardened ground | N |
| And win it to give out its brightness and perfume | Q |
| - | |
| Thou smil'st on us in wrath and we | R |
| E'en in remorse would smile on Thee | R |
| The tears that bathe our offered hearts | S |
| We would not have them stained and dim | T |
| But dropped from wings of seraphim | T |
| All glowing with the light accepted love imparts | S |
| - | |
| Time's waters will not ebb nor stay | I |
| Power cannot change them but Love may | I |
| What cannot be Love counts it done | C |
| Deep in the heart her searching view | U |
| Can read where Faith is fixed and true | U |
| Through shades of setting life can see Heaven's work begun | C |
| - | |
| O Thou who keep'st the Key of Love | V |
| Open Thy fount eternal Dove | V |
| And overflow this heart of mine | W |
| Enlarging as it fills with Thee | R |
| Till in one blaze of charity | R |
| Care and remorse are lost like motes in light divine | W |
| - | |
| Till as each moment wafts us higher | X |
| By every gush of pure desire | X |
| And high breathed hope of joys above | V |
| By every secret sigh we heave | Y |
| Whole years of folly we outlive | Z |
| In His unerring sight who measures Life by Love | V |
John Keble
(1)
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