The Law Of Death Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDCC EEFFGGBBHH BBBBB IIIHJDDBB KKLLBBMMBBBBCCNNAAII BBIIBBBBI IOPBB BB

The song of Kilvani fairest sheA
In all the land of SavatthiB
She had one child as sweet and gayC
And dear to her as the light of dayC
She was so young and he so fairD
The same bright eyes and the same dark hairD
To see them by the blossomy wayC
They seemed two children at their playC
-
There came a death dart from the skyE
Kilvani saw her darling dieE
The glimmering shade his eyes invadesF
Out of his cheek the red bloom fadesF
His warm heart feels the icy chillG
The round limbs shudder and are stillG
And yet Kilvani held him fastB
Long after life's last pulse was pastB
As if her kisses could restoreH
The smile gone out for evermoreH
-
But when she saw her child was deadB
She scattered ashes on her headB
And seized the small corpse pale and sweetB
And rushing wildly through the streetB
She sobbing fell at Buddha's feetB
-
Master all helpful help me nowI
Here at thy feet I humbly bowI
Have mercy Buddha help me nowI
She grovelled on the marble floorH
And kissed the dead child o'er and o'erJ
And suddenly upon the airD
There fell the answer to her prayerD
Bring me to night a lotus tiedB
With thread from a house where none has diedB
-
She rose and laughed with thankful joyK
Sure that the god would save the boyK
She found a lotus by the streamL
She plucked it from its noonday dreamL
And then from door to door she faredB
To ask what house by Death was sparedB
Her heart grew cold to see the eyesM
Of all dilate with slow surpriseM
Kilvani thou hast lost thy headB
Nothing can help a child that's deadB
There stands not by the Ganges' sideB
A house where none hath ever diedB
Thus through the long and weary dayC
From every door she bore awayC
Within her heart and on her armN
A heavier load a deeper harmN
By gates of gold and ivoryA
By wattled huts of povertyA
The same refrain heard poor KilvaniI
THE LIVING ARE FEW THE DEAD ARE MANYI
-
The evening came so still and fleetB
And overtook her hurrying feetB
And heartsick by the sacred faneI
She fell and prayed the god againI
She sobbed and beat her bursting breastB
Ah thou hast mocked me MightiestB
Lo I have wandered far and wideB
There stands no house where none hath diedB
And Buddha answered in a toneI
-
Soft as a flute at twilight blownI
But grand as heaven and strong as deathO
To him who hears with ears of faithP
Child thou art answered Murmur notB
Bow and accept the common lotB
-
Kilvani heard with reverence meetB
And laid her child at Buddha's feetB

John Milton Hay



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