Sixth Sunday After Epiphany Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABC DEFFGGHH HHIIJJKK LLMNHHHH HHOOHHHH PPHHQQRR HHHHSTUU HHVVWWHX YYZZA2A2B2C2 D2D2HXE2E2FF F2F2HHHHG2G2 HHHHHHHHBeloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear | A |
what we shall be but we know that when He shall appear we shall | B |
be like Him for we shall see Him as he is St John iii | C |
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There are who darkling and alone | D |
Would wish the weary night were gone | E |
Though dawning morn should only show | F |
The secret of their unknown woe | F |
Who pray for sharpest throbs of pain | G |
To ease them of doubt's galling chain | G |
Only disperse the cloud they cry | H |
And if our fate be death give light and let us die | H |
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Unwise I deem them Lord unmeet | H |
To profit by Thy chastenings sweet | H |
For Thou wouldst have us linger still | I |
Upon the verge of good or ill | I |
That on Thy guiding hand unseen | J |
Our undivided hearts may lean | J |
And this our frail and foundering bark | K |
Glide in the narrow wake of Thy beloved ark | K |
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'Tis so in war the champion true | L |
Loves victory more when dim in view | L |
He sees her glories gild afar | M |
The dusky edge of stubborn war | N |
Than if the untrodden bloodless field | H |
The harvest of her laurels yield | H |
Let not my bark in calm abide | H |
But win her fearless way against the chafing tide | H |
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'Tis so in love the faithful heart | H |
From her dim vision would not part | H |
When first to her fond gaze is given | O |
That purest spot in Fancy's heaven | O |
For all the gorgeous sky beside | H |
Though pledged her own and sure to abide | H |
Dearer than every past noon day | H |
That twilight gleam to her though faint and far away | H |
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So have I seen some tender flower | P |
Prized above all the vernal bower | P |
Sheltered beneath the coolest shade | H |
Embosomed in the greenest glade | H |
So frail a gem it scarce may bear | Q |
The playful touch of evening air | Q |
When hardier grown we love it less | R |
And trust it from our sight not needing our caress | R |
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And wherefore is the sweet spring tide | H |
Worth all the changeful year beside | H |
The last born babe why lies its part | H |
Deep in the mother's inmost heart | H |
But that the Lord and Source of love | S |
Would have His weakest ever prove | T |
Our tenderest care and most of all | U |
Our frail immortal souls His work and Satan's thrall | U |
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So be it Lord I know it best | H |
Though not as yet this wayward breast | H |
Beat quite in answer to Thy voice | V |
Yet surely I have made my choice | V |
I know not yet the promised bliss | W |
Know not if I shall win or miss | W |
So doubting rather let me die | H |
Than close with aught beside to last eternally | X |
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What is the Heaven we idly dream | Y |
The self deceiver's dreary theme | Y |
A cloudless sun that softly shines | Z |
Bright maidens and unfailing vines | Z |
The warrior's pride the hunter's mirth | A2 |
Poor fragments all of this low earth | A2 |
Such as in sleep would hardly soothe | B2 |
A soul that once had tasted of immortal Truth | C2 |
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What is the Heaven our God bestows | D2 |
No Prophet yet no Angel knows | D2 |
Was never yet created eye | H |
Could see across Eternity | X |
Not seraph's wing for ever soaring | E2 |
Can pass the flight of souls adoring | E2 |
That nearer still and nearer grow | F |
To the unapproached Lord once made for them so low | F |
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Unseen unfelt their earthly growth | F2 |
And self accused of sin and sloth | F2 |
They live and die their names decay | H |
Their fragrance passes quite away | H |
Like violets in the freezing blast | H |
No vernal steam around they cast | H |
But they shall flourish from the tomb | G2 |
The breath of God shall wake them into odorous bloom | G2 |
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Then on the incarnate Saviour's breast | H |
The fount of sweetness they shall rest | H |
Their spirits every hour imbued | H |
More deeply with His precious blood | H |
But peace still voice and closed eye | H |
Suit best with hearts beyond the sky | H |
Hearts training in their low abode | H |
Daily to lose themselves in hope to find their God | H |
John Keble
(1)
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