The Old Carrier Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEF GGHHIIJJKK LLMMKKNNKK OOKKPPQQKK RRSSTTUUKK VVWWXXYYKK ZZRRA2A2B2VKK KKC2C2RRA2A2KK D2D2E2E2F2F2G2G2KK UUH2H2GGOOKK I2I2J2J2I2I2KKKK

Old Lucia who for many years walked back and forth every day and inA
all weathers between Azzano and Menaggio a distance of six milesB
bearing merchandise of all sorts in a basket on her back fell to theC
ground exhausted as she was nearing her poor home on Christmas EveD
She died next morning at the age of seventy three At the time sheE
fell she was carrying a load of nearly one hundred poundsF
-
Patient toiler on the roadG
Bending 'neath your heavy loadG
Worn and furrowed is your faceH
Slow and tremulous your paceH
Yet you still pursue your wayI
Bearing burdens day by dayI
With the same pathetic smileJ
Over many a weary mileJ
As you bravely come and goK
To and from MenaggioK
-
Snowy white your scanty hairL
Crowns a forehead seamed with careL
And a look of suffering liesM
In your clear blue wistful eyesM
While your thin and ashen cheekK
Tells the tale you will not speakK
Of a lodging dark and oldN
And a hearth so bare and coldN
That you often hungry goK
To and from MenaggioK
-
Never know you days of restO
Ceaseless is your humble questO
Of the pittance that you askK
For your arduous daily taskK
Every morning sees your formP
Pass through sunshine or through stormP
Every evening hears your feetQ
Trudging up the darkened streetQ
For your gait is always slowK
Coming from MenaggioK
-
Once your dull eyes gleamed with lightR
Once those arms were round and whiteR
And the feet now roughly shodS
Lightly danced upon the sodS
As to womanhood you grewT
And a lover's rapture knewT
For you once were fair 'tis saidU
Early wooed and early wedU
And your husband long agoK
Died in old MenaggioK
-
Children Aye but not one caresV
How the poor old mother faresV
You must struggle on aloneW
They have children of their ownW
And for them devoid of shameX
All your scanty earnings claimX
Can you walk Then go you mustY
Plodding on through rain and dustY
Summer heat and winter's snowK
To and from MenaggioK
-
Christmas Eve Through glistening greenZ
Gleams a merry festive sceneZ
Trees with candles burning brightR
Wake in children's hearts delightR
Where such peace and comfort reignA2
None observes the window paneA2
Where your wan face sadly peersB2
Through a mist of falling tearsV
At a joy you never knowK
Carrier from MenaggioK
-
Much that makes those children gayK
You have brought them day by dayK
Thankful that you thus could earnC2
Wood to make your hearthstone burnC2
Not for you such food and lightR
Clothing warm and candles brightR
You are grateful if you gainA2
Bread to stifle hunger's painA2
Ah it was not always soK
In old time MenaggioK
-
-
-
She has turned to climb the hillD2
Stay why lies she there so stillD2
Have her old limbs failed at lastE2
In the chilling wintry blastE2
Since for threescore years and tenF2
She has done the work of menF2
'Tis not strange that she should fallG2
Weak and helpless by the wallG2
Nevermore to come and goK
To and from MenaggioK
-
Gently lift her old gray headU
Bear her homeward She is deadU
Fallen like a faithful horseH2
At the limit of its courseH2
Fallen on the stony roadG
Uncomplaining 'neath her loadG
And the heart within her breastO
For the first time finds its restO
Rest that it could never knowK
Coming from MenaggioK
-
Sound again O Christmas bellsI2
Peace on Earth your song foretellsI2
It has come in truth to oneJ2
Whose long pilgrimage is doneJ2
Merciful her quick releaseI2
Blessed her eternal peaceI2
Yet I know that day by dayK
As she no more comes my wayK
I shall miss her as I goK
To and from MenaggioK

John L. Stoddard



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