Sunday Next Before Advent Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AB CDEFAAAF GGGHIIJH KKKDLLLD MBBNCOON PPPCQQQC RRRSTTTS UUUVWWWV XXXJLLLI YYYZA2A2A2Z B2B2B2WC2C2C2W| Gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost | A |
| St John vi | B |
| - | |
| - | |
| Will God indeed with fragments bear | C |
| Snatched late from the decaying year | D |
| Or can the Saviour's blood endear | E |
| The dregs of a polluted life | F |
| When down th' o'erwhelming current tossed | A |
| Just ere he sink for ever lost | A |
| The sailor's untried arms are crossed | A |
| In agonizing prayer will Ocean cease her strife | F |
| - | |
| Sighs that exhaust but not relieve | G |
| Heart rending sighs O spare to heave | G |
| A bosom freshly taught to grieve | G |
| For lavished hours and love misspent | H |
| Now through her round of holy thought | I |
| The Church our annual steps has brought | I |
| But we no holy fire have caught | J |
| Back on the gaudy world our wilful eyes were bent | H |
| - | |
| Too soon th' ennobling carols poured | K |
| To hymn the birth night of the LORD | K |
| Which duteous Memory should have stored | K |
| For thankful echoing all the year | D |
| Too soon those airs have passed away | L |
| Nor long within the heart would stay | L |
| The silence of CHRIST'S dying day | L |
| Profaned by worldly mirth or scared by worldly fear | D |
| - | |
| Some strain of hope and victory | M |
| On Easter wings might lift us high | B |
| A little while we sought the sky | B |
| And when the SPIRIT'S beacon fires | N |
| On every hill began to blare | C |
| Lightening the world with glad amaze | O |
| Who but must kindle while they gaze | O |
| But faster than she soars our earth bound Fancy tires | N |
| - | |
| Nor yet for these nor all the rites | P |
| By which our Mother's voice invites | P |
| Our GOD to bless our home delights | P |
| And sweeten every secret tear | C |
| The funeral dirge the marriage vow | Q |
| The hollowed font where parents bow | Q |
| And now elate and trembling now | Q |
| To the Redeemer's feet their new found treasures bear | C |
| - | |
| Not for this Pastor's gracious arm | R |
| Stretched out to bless a Christian charm | R |
| To dull the shafts of worldly harm | R |
| Nor sweetest holiest best of all | S |
| For the dear feast of JESUS dying | T |
| Upon that altar ever lying | T |
| Where souls with sacred hunger sighing | T |
| Are called to sit and eat while angels prostrate fall | S |
| - | |
| No not for each and all of these | U |
| Have our frail spirits found their ease | U |
| The gale that stirs the autumnal trees | U |
| Seems tuned as truly to our hearts | V |
| As when twelve weary months ago | W |
| 'Twas moaning bleak so high and low | W |
| You would have thought Remorse and Woe | W |
| Had taught the innocent air their sadly thrilling parts | V |
| - | |
| Is it CHRIST'S light is too divine | X |
| We dare not hope like Him to shine | X |
| But see around His dazzling shrine | X |
| Earths gems the fire of Heaven have caught | J |
| Martyrs and saints each glorious day | L |
| Dawning in order on our way | L |
| Remind us how our darksome clay | L |
| May keep th' ethereal warmth our new Creator brought | I |
| - | |
| These we have scorned O false and frail | Y |
| And now once more th' appalling tale | Y |
| How love divine may woo and fail | Y |
| Of our lost year in Heaven is told | Z |
| What if as far our life were past | A2 |
| Our weeks all numbered to the last | A2 |
| With time and hope behind us cast | A2 |
| And all our work to do with palsied hands and cold | Z |
| - | |
| O watch and pray ere Advent dawn | B2 |
| For thinner than the subtlest lawn | B2 |
| 'Twixt thee and death the veil is drawn | B2 |
| But Love too late can never glow | W |
| The scattered fragments Love can glean | C2 |
| Refine the dregs and yield us clean | C2 |
| To regions where one thought serene | C2 |
| Breathes sweeter than whole years of sacrifice below | W |
John Keble
(1)
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