The Negro Girl Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCDD A EFEGHH A IJIJEE C KLKLBB C MCMCJJ C ENEOCC C PQPQRR C CSSSTT C RRRRUU C CRCRCC C SVSWRR C RCRCCC C RCRCCC C CXCXEE C RCRCPP C RYRZCC C CRCRCC C XA2XA2CC C B2RB2RSS C RCRCC2C2 C RSRSCC

IA
-
Dark was the dawn and o'er the deepB
The boist'rous whirlwinds blewC
The Sea bird wheel'd its circling sweepB
And all was drear to viewC
When on the beach that binds the western shoreD
The love lorn ZELMA stood list'ning the tempest's roarD
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IIA
-
Her eager Eyes beheld the mainE
While on her DRACO dearF
She madly call'd but call'd in vainE
No sound could DRACO hearG
Save the shrill yelling of the fateful blastH
While ev'ry Seaman's heart quick shudder'd as it pastH
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IIIA
-
White were the billows wide display'dI
The clouds were black and lowJ
The Bittern shriek'd a gliding shadeI
Seem'd o'er the waves to goJ
The livid flash illum'd the clam'rous mainE
While ZELMA pour'd unmark'd her melancholy strainE
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IVC
-
Be still she cried loud tempest ceaseK
O spare the gallant soulsL
The thunder rolls the winds increaseK
The Sea like mountains rollsL
While from the deck the storm worn victims leapB
And o'er their struggling limbs the furious billows sweepB
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VC
-
O barb'rous Pow'r relentless FateM
Does Heav'n's high will decreeC
That some should sleep on beds of stateM
Some in the roaring SeaC
Some nurs'd in splendour deal Oppression's blowJ
While worth and DRACO pine in Slavery and woeJ
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VIC
-
Yon Vessel oft has plough'd the mainE
With human traffic fraughtN
Its cargo our dark Sons of painE
For worldly treasure boughtO
What had they done O Nature tell me whyC
Is taunting scorn the lot of thy dark progenyC
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VIIC
-
Thou gav'st in thy caprice the SoulP
Peculiarly enshrin'dQ
Nor from the ebon Casket stoleP
The Jewel of the mindQ
Then wherefore let the suff'ring Negro's breastR
Bow to his fellow MAN in brighter colours drestR
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VIIIC
-
Is it the dim and glossy hueC
That marks him for despairS
While men with blood their hands embrueS
And mock the wretch's pray'rS
Shall guiltless Slaves the Scourge of tyrants feelT
And e'en before their GOD unheard unpitied kneelT
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IXC
-
Could the proud rulers of the landR
Our Sable race beholdR
Some bow'd by torture's Giant handR
And others basely soldR
Then would they pity Slaves and cry with shameU
Whate'er their TINTS may be their SOULS are still the sameU
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XC
-
Why seek to mock the Ethiop's faceC
Why goad our hapless kindR
Can features alienate the raceC
Is there no kindred mindR
Does not the cheek which vaunts the roseate hueC
Oft blush for crimes that Ethiops never knewC
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XIC
-
Behold the angry waves conspireS
To check the barb'rous toilV
While wounded Nature's vengeful ireS
Roars round this trembling IsleW
And hark her voice re echoes in the windR
Man was not form'd by Heav'n to trample on his kindR
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XIIC
-
Torn from my Mother's aching breastR
My Tyrant sought my loveC
But in the Grave shall ZELMA restR
E'er she will faithless proveC
No DRACO Thy companion I will beC
To that celestial realm where Negros shall be freeC
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XIIIC
-
The Tyrant WHITE MAN taught my mindR
The letter'd page to traceC
He taught me in the Soul to findR
No tint as in the faceC
He bade my Reason blossom like the treeC
But fond affection gave the ripen'd fruits to theeC
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XIVC
-
With jealous rage he mark'd my loveC
He sent thee far awayX
And prison'd in the plantain groveC
Poor ZELMA pass'd the dayX
But ere the moon rose high above the mainE
ZELMA and Love contriv'd to break the Tyrant's chainE
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XVC
-
Swift o'er the plain of burning SandR
My course I bent to theeC
And soon I reach'd the billowy strandR
Which bounds the stormy SeaC
DRACO my Love Oh yet thy ZELMA'S soulP
Springs ardently to thee impatient of controulP
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XVIC
-
Again the lightning flashes whiteR
The rattling cords amongY
Now by the transient vivid lightR
I mark the frantic throngZ
Now up the tatter'd shrouds my DRACO fliesC
While o'er the plunging prow the curling billows riseC
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XVIIC
-
The topmast falls three shackled slavesC
Cling to the Vessel's sideR
Now lost amid the madd'ning wavesC
Now on the mast they rideR
See on the forecastle my DRACO standsC
And now he waves his chain now clasps his bleeding handsC
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XVIIIC
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Why cruel WHITE MAN when awayX
My sable Love was tornA2
Why did you let poor ZELMA stayX
On Afric's sands to mournA2
No ZELMA is not left for she will proveC
In the deep troubled main her fond her faithful LOVEC
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XIXC
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The lab'ring Ship was now a wreckB2
The shrouds were flutt'ring wideR
The rudder gone the lofty deckB2
Was rock'd from side to sideR
Poor ZELMA'S eyes now dropp'd their last big tearS
While from her tawny cheek the blood recoil'd with fearS
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XXC
-
Now frantic on the sands she roam'dR
Now shrieking stop'd to viewC
Where high the liquid mountains foam'dR
Around the exhausted crewC
'Till from the deck her DRACO'S well known formC2
Sprung mid the yawning waves and buffetted the StormC2
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XXIC
-
Long on the swelling surge sustain'dR
Brave DRACO sought the shoreS
Watch'd the dark Maid but ne'er complain'dR
Then sunk to gaze no moreS
Poor ZELMA saw him buried by the waveC
And with her heart's true Love plung'd in a wat'ry graveC

Mary Darby Robinson



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