Acqua Fredda Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ KHKH ELEL MNMM OPOQ RSRS MEME THTH| By Acqua Fredda's cloister wall | A |
| I pause to feel the mountain breeze | B |
| And watch the shadows eastward fall | A |
| From immemorial cypress trees | B |
| - | |
| Like arms outstretched to bless and pray | C |
| Those dusky phantoms downward creep | D |
| To where by Lenno's curving bay | C |
| The peaceful village seems to sleep | D |
| - | |
| While mirrored peaks of stainless snow | E |
| Turn crimson 'neath the farther shore | F |
| And here and there the sunset glow | E |
| Threads diamonds on a dripping oar | F |
| - | |
| But now a tremor breaks the spell | G |
| And stirs to life the languid air | H |
| It is the convent's vesper bell | G |
| The plaintive call to evening prayer | H |
| - | |
| That prayer which rises like a sigh | I |
| From every sorrow laden breast | J |
| When twilight dims the garish sky | I |
| And day is dying in the west | J |
| - | |
| Ave Maria we who miss | K |
| A mother's love a mother's care | H |
| Implore thee bring us to that bliss | K |
| We fondly hope with thee to share | H |
| - | |
| How sweet and clear how soft and low | E |
| Those vesper orisons are sung | L |
| In Rome's grand speech of long ago | E |
| Forever old forever young | L |
| - | |
| And those who chant that exiled band | M |
| Expelled from France with scorn and hate | N |
| How fare they in this foreign land | M |
| Is life for them disconsolate | M |
| - | |
| Have they escaped the sight of pain | O |
| Of social strife of hopeless tears | P |
| Does life's dark problem grow more plain | O |
| As pass in prayer the tranquil years | Q |
| - | |
| I know not dare not ask of them | R |
| Their souls are read by God alone | S |
| But he who would their lives condemn | R |
| Should pause before he cast a stone | S |
| - | |
| So full is life of hate and greed | M |
| So vain the world's poor tinselled show | E |
| What wonder that some souls have need | M |
| To flee from all its sin and woe | E |
| - | |
| I would not join them yet in truth | T |
| I feel in leaving them at prayer | H |
| That something precious of my youth | T |
| Long lost to me is treasured there | H |
John L. Stoddard
(1)
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