Poet Madison Julius Cawein

Madison Julius Cawein

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The Shadow Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBA DEDFD GHGHG IJIJI GKGKG L L DMDMD

Mother mother what is that gazing through the darknessA
What is that that looks at me with its awful eyesB
Tell me mother what it is freezing me to starknessC
Through the house it seems to go with its icy sighsB
What is that oh what is that mother in the darknessA
-
II-
-
Child my child my little child 'tis a waving willowD
That the night wind bows and sways near the window paneE
Here's my breast my little son Let it be your pillowD
Have no fear love in my arms Go to sleep againF
Go to sleep and turn your face from the windy willowD
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III-
-
Mother mother what is that going round and round thereG
Round the house and at the door stops and turns the knobH
Hold me close O mother love keep me from that sound thereG
Hear it how it's knocking now Don't you hear it sobH
Guard me from the ghostly thing that goes round and round thereG
-
IV-
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Child my child my little child 'tis the wind that wandersI
'Tis the wandering wind that knocks crying at the doorJ
Hark no more and heed no more what the night wind maundersI
Rest your head on mother's heart list its faery loreJ
Go to sleep and have no fear of the wind that wandersI
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V-
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Mother mother look and see what is that that stands thereG
With its lantern face and limbs mantled all in blackK
Gaunt and grim and horrible with its knuckled hands thereG
Now before me now beside me now behind my backK
Mother mother face it now ask it why it stands thereG
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VI-
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Child my child my little child 'tis a shadow only-
Shadow of the lamp shade here near your little bedL
No it will not come again when the night lies lonely-
Sleep oh sleep my little son See the thing is fledL
Mother will not leave her boy with that shadow only-
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VII-
-
Will he live or will he die Answer fearful ShadowD
O thou Death who hoverest near hold thy hands awayM
Oh that night were past and light lay on hill and meadowD
Does he sleep or is he dead God that it were dayM
Light to help my love to fight with that crouching shadowD

Madison Julius Cawein



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