The Captive Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF EGEG HIHI EJEJ AKAK LMNM| I opened the cage of my pet canary | A |
| Timid it faltered a moment there | B |
| Then at my call became less wary | A |
| And blithely sprang to the buoyant air | B |
| - | |
| Brief was its dream of freedom's rapture | C |
| A window barred its sunward flight | D |
| It beat its wings in fear of capture | C |
| But found no way to the world of light | D |
| - | |
| Out in the park two birds were mating | E |
| Building together their tiny nest | F |
| Keenly the captive watched them waiting | E |
| Pressing the glass with its throbbing breast | F |
| - | |
| Leaving at length the window casing | E |
| Lighting by chance on a neighboring shelf | G |
| It stood before a mirror facing | E |
| The pretty form of its own sweet self | G |
| - | |
| Falling in love with its own reflection | H |
| Thinking it always another bird | I |
| Bravely it tried to win affection | H |
| Warbling tones I had never heard | I |
| - | |
| Hopeless alas its tender wooing | E |
| Vainly it trilled its sweetest note | J |
| Coldly received was its ardent sueing | E |
| Silent the mirrored songster's throat | J |
| - | |
| Wearied at last it flew off sadly | A |
| Back to the cage's open door | K |
| Back to the home it left so gladly | A |
| Only a little hour before | K |
| - | |
| Dead are the lovers so fondly mated | L |
| Gone is their nest it was blown away | M |
| But safe in the narrow cage it hated | N |
| The captive sings on its perch to day | M |
John L. Stoddard
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Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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