The Flower's Lesson Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ KKLLMMNNJJOOPPQQJJDD OORRBBMMBBSSTTNNUUNN DDVWSSKKXYZZLLNN A2A2B2B2There grew a fragrant rose tree where the brook flows | A |
With two little tender buds and one full rose | A |
When the sun went down to his bed in the west | B |
The little buds leaned on the rose mother's breast | B |
While the bright eyed stars their long watch kept | C |
And the flowers of the valley in their green cradles slept | C |
Then silently in odors they communed with each other | D |
The two little buds on the bosom of their mother | D |
O sister said the little one as she gazed at the sky | E |
I wish that the Dew Elves as they wander lightly by | E |
Would bring me a star for they never grow dim | F |
And the Father does not need them to burn round him | F |
The shining drops of dew the Elves bring each day | G |
And place in my bosom so soon pass away | G |
But a star would glitter brightly through the long summer hours | H |
And I should be fairer than all my sister flowers | H |
That were better far than the dew drops that fall | I |
On the high and the low and come alike to all | I |
I would be fair and stately with a bright star to shine | J |
And give a queenly air to this crimson robe of mine | J |
And proudly she cried These fire flies shall be | K |
My jewels since the stars can never come to me | K |
Just then a tiny dew drop that hung o'er the dell | L |
On the breast of the bud like a soft star fell | L |
But impatiently she flung it away from her leaf | M |
And it fell on her mother like a tear of grief | M |
While she folded to her breast with wilful pride | N |
A glittering fire fly that hung by her side | N |
Heed said the mother rose daughter mine | J |
Why shouldst thou seek for beauty not thine | J |
The Father hath made thee what thou now art | O |
And what he most loveth is a sweet pure heart | O |
Then why dost thou take with such discontent | P |
The loving gift which he to thee hath sent | P |
For the cool fresh dew will render thee far | Q |
More lovely and sweet than the brightest star | Q |
They were made for Heaven and can never come to shine | J |
Like the fire fly thou hast in that foolish breast of thine | J |
O my foolish little bud do listen to thy mother | D |
Care only for true beauty and seek for no other | D |
There will be grief and trouble in that wilful little heart | O |
Unfold thy leaves my daughter and let the fly depart | O |
But the proud little bud would have her own will | R |
And folded the fire fly more closely still | R |
Till the struggling insect tore open the vest | B |
Of purple and green that covered her breast | B |
When the sun came up she saw with grief | M |
The blooming of her sister bud leaf by leaf | M |
While she once as fair and bright as the rest | B |
Hung her weary head down on her wounded breast | B |
Bright grew the sunshine and the soft summer air | S |
Was filled with the music of flowers singing there | S |
But faint grew the little bud with thirst and pain | T |
And longed for the cool dew but now 't was in vain | T |
Then bitterly she wept for her folly and pride | N |
As drooping she stood by her fair sister's side | N |
Then the rose mother leaned the weary little head | U |
On her bosom to rest and tenderly she said | U |
Thou hast learned my little bud that whatever may betide | N |
Thou canst win thyself no joy by passion or by pride | N |
The loving Father sends the sunshine and the shower | D |
That thou mayst become a perfect little flower | D |
The sweet dews to feed thee the soft wind to cheer | V |
And the earth as a pleasant home while thou art dwelling here | W |
Then shouldst thou not be grateful for all this kindly care | S |
And strive to keep thyself most innocent and fair | S |
Then seek my little blossom to win humility | K |
Be fair without be pure within and thou wilt happy be | K |
So when the quiet Autumn of thy fragrant life shall come | X |
Thou mayst pass away to bloom in the Flower Spirits' home | Y |
Then from the mother's breast where it still lay hid | Z |
Into the fading bud the dew drop gently slid | Z |
Stronger grew the little form and happy tears fell | L |
As the dew did its silent work and the bud grew well | L |
While the gentle rose leaned with motherly pride | N |
O'er the fair little ones that bloomed at her side | N |
- | |
Night came again and the fire flies flew | A2 |
But the bud let them pass and drank of the dew | A2 |
While the soft stars shone from the still summer heaven | B2 |
On the happy little flower that had learned the lesson given | B2 |
Louisa May Alcott
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