The Unconquered Dead Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBC DEDE FGFG HIHI JKJK LMLM BNBN| defeated with great loss | A |
| - | |
| - | |
| Not we the conquered Not to us the blame | B |
| Of them that flee of them that basely yield | C |
| Nor ours the shout of victory the fame | B |
| Of them that vanquish in a stricken field | C |
| - | |
| That day of battle in the dusty heat | D |
| We lay and heard the bullets swish and sing | E |
| Like scythes amid the over ripened wheat | D |
| And we the harvest of their garnering | E |
| - | |
| Some yielded No not we Not we we swear | F |
| By these our wounds this trench upon the hill | G |
| Where all the shell strewn earth is seamed and bare | F |
| Was ours to keep and lo we have it still | G |
| - | |
| We might have yielded even we but death | H |
| Came for our helper like a sudden flood | I |
| The crashing darkness fell our painful breath | H |
| We drew with gasps amid the choking blood | I |
| - | |
| The roar fell faint and farther off and soon | J |
| Sank to a foolish humming in our ears | K |
| Like crickets in the long hot afternoon | J |
| Among the wheat fields of the olden years | K |
| - | |
| Before our eyes a boundless wall of red | L |
| Shot through by sudden streaks of jagged pain | M |
| Then a slow gathering darkness overhead | L |
| And rest came on us like a quiet rain | M |
| - | |
| Not we the conquered Not to us the shame | B |
| Who hold our earthen ramparts nor shall cease | N |
| To hold them ever victors we who came | B |
| In that fierce moment to our honoured peace | N |
John Mccrae
(1)
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