The Neckan Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCB AADA EFAF AGHG IJAK LMN I OP LQAQ RSA ATAU RVCV USWS UCA CCC AVMV AAX ABCB

In summer on the headlandsA
The Baltic Sea alongB
Sits Neckan with his harp of goldC
And sings his plaintive songB
-
Green rolls beneath the headlandsA
Green rolls the Baltic SeaA
And there below the Neckan's feetD
His wife and children beA
-
He sings not of the oceanE
Its shells and roses paleF
Of earth of earth the Neckan singsA
He hath no other taleF
-
He sits upon the headlandsA
And sings a mournful staveG
Of all he saw and felt on earthH
Far from the green sea waveG
-
Sings how a knight he wander'dI
By castle field and townJ
But earthly knights have harder heartsA
Than the Sea Children ownK
-
Sings of his earthly bridalL
Priest knights and ladies gayM
'And who art thou ' the priest beganN
'Sir Knight who wedd'st to day '-
-
'I am no knight ' he answer'dI
'From the sea waves I come '-
The knights drew sword the ladies scream'dO
The surplic'd priest stood dumbP
-
He sings how from the chapelL
He vanish'd with his brideQ
And bore her down to the sea hallsA
Beneath the cold sea tideQ
-
He sings how she sits weepingR
'Mid shells that round her lieS
'False Neckan shares my bed ' she weepsA
'No Christian mate have I '-
-
He sings how through the billowsA
He rose to earth againT
And sought a priest to sign the crossA
That Neckan Heaven might gainU
-
He sings how on an eveningR
Beneath the birch trees coolV
He sate and play d his harp of goldC
Beside the river poolV
-
Beside the pool sate NeckanU
Tears fill'd his cold blue eyeS
On his white mule across the bridgeW
A cassock'd priest rode byS
-
'Why sitt'st thou there O NeckanU
And play'st thy harp of goldC
Sooner shall this my staff bear leavesA
Than thou shalt Heaven behold '-
-
But lo the staff it buddedC
It green'd it branch'd it wavedC
'O ruth of God ' the preist cried outC
'This lost sea creature saved '-
-
The cassock'd priest rode onwardsA
And vanish'd with his muleV
And Neckan in the twilight greyM
Wept by the river poolV
-
He wept 'The earth hath kindnessA
The sea the starry polesA
Earth sea and sky and God aboveX
But ah not human souls '-
-
In summer on the headlandsA
The Baltic Sea alongB
Sits Neckan with his harp of goldC
And sings this plaintive songB

Matthew Arnold



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