The Fourth Shepherd Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBC D D EFEF GHGH IJIJ KLKL MNON PQPQ RSRS TUTU I BUBU VWVW QNQN I X X YIYI ZA2ZA2For Thomas Walsh | A |
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I | - |
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On nights like this the huddled sheep | B |
Are like white clouds upon the grass | C |
And merry herdsmen guard their sleep | B |
And chat and watch the big stars pass | C |
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It is a pleasant thing to lie | - |
Upon the meadow on the hill | D |
With kindly fellowship near by | - |
Of sheep and men of gentle will | D |
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I lean upon my broken crook | E |
And dream of sheep and grass and men | F |
O shameful eyes that cannot look | E |
On any honest thing again | F |
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On bloody feet I clambered down | G |
And fled the wages of my sin | H |
I am the leavings of the town | G |
And meanly serve its meanest inn | H |
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I tramp the courtyard stones in grief | I |
While sleep takes man and beast to her | J |
And every cloud is calling Thief | I |
And every star calls Murderer | J |
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II | - |
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The hand of God is sure and strong | K |
Nor shall a man forever flee | L |
The bitter punishment of wrong | K |
The wrath of God is over me | L |
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With ashen bread and wine of tears | M |
Shall I be solaced in my pain | N |
I wear through black and endless years | O |
Upon my brow the mark of Cain | N |
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III | - |
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Poor vagabond so old and mild | P |
Will they not keep him for a night | Q |
And She a woman great with child | P |
So frail and pitiful and white | Q |
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Good people since the tavern door | R |
Is shut to you come here instead | S |
See I have cleansed my stable floor | R |
And piled fresh hay to make a bed | S |
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Here is some milk and oaten cake | T |
Lie down and sleep and rest you fair | U |
Nor fear O simple folk to take | T |
The bounty of a child of care | U |
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IV | I |
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On nights like this the huddled sheep | B |
I never saw a night so fair | U |
How huge the sky is and how deep | B |
And how the planets flash and glare | U |
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At dawn beside my drowsy flock | V |
What winged music I have heard | W |
But now the clouds with singing rock | V |
As if the sky were turning bird | W |
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O blinding Light O blinding Light | Q |
Burn through my heart with sweetest pain | N |
O flaming Song most loudly bright | Q |
Consume away my deadly stain | N |
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V | I |
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The stable glows against the sky | - |
And who are these that throng the way | X |
My three old comrades hasten by | - |
And shining angels kneel and pray | X |
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The door swings wide I cannot go | Y |
I must and yet I dare not see | I |
Lord who am I that I should know | Y |
Lord God be merciful to me | I |
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VI | - |
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O Whiteness whiter than the fleece | Z |
Of new washed sheep on April sod | A2 |
O Breath of Life O Prince of Peace | Z |
O Lamb of God O Lamb of God | A2 |
Joyce Kilmer
(1)
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