Francis Parkman Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBC DEDE FGFG HIHI JKJK EEEE FEFE ELEL EHEH MNMN EOEO PEPE AQRQ ESES| September November | A |
| - | |
| HE rests from toil the portals of the tomb | B |
| Close on the last of those unwearying hands | C |
| That wove their pictured webs in History's loom | B |
| Rich with the memories of three distant lands | C |
| - | |
| One wrought the record of the Royal Pair | D |
| Who saw the great Discoverer's sail unfurled | E |
| Happy his more than regal prize to share | D |
| The spoils the wonders of the sunset world | E |
| - | |
| There too he found his theme upreared anew | F |
| Our eyes beheld the vanished Aztec shrines | G |
| And all the silver splendors of Peru | F |
| That lured the conqueror to her fatal mines | G |
| - | |
| Nor less remembered he who told the tale | H |
| Of empire wrested from the strangling sea | I |
| Of Leyden's woe that turned his readers pale | H |
| The price of unborn freedom yet to be | I |
| - | |
| Who taught the New World what the Old could teach | J |
| Whose silent hero peerless as our own | K |
| By deeds that mocked the feeble breath of speech | J |
| Called up to life a State without a Throne | K |
| - | |
| As year by year his tapestry unrolled | E |
| What varied wealth its growing length displayed | E |
| What long processions flamed in cloth of gold | E |
| What stately forms their flowing robes arrayed | E |
| - | |
| Not such the scenes our later craftsman drew | F |
| Not such the shapes his darker pattern hold | E |
| A deeper shadow lent its sober hue | F |
| A sadder tale his tragic task compelled | E |
| - | |
| He told the red man's story far and wide | E |
| He searched the unwritten records of his race | L |
| He sat a listener at the Sachem's side | E |
| He tracked the hunter through his wildwood chase | L |
| - | |
| High o'er his head the soaring eagle screamed | E |
| The wolf's long howl rang nightly through the vale | H |
| Tramped the lone bear the panther's eyeballs gleamed | E |
| The bison's gallop thundered on the gale | H |
| - | |
| Soon o'er the horizon rose the cloud of strife | M |
| Two proud strong nations battling for the prize | N |
| Which swarming host should mould a nation's life | M |
| Which royal banner float the western skies | N |
| - | |
| Long raged the conflict on the crimson sod | E |
| Native and alien joined their hosts in vain | O |
| The lilies withered where the Lion trod | E |
| Till Peace lay panting on the ravaged plain | O |
| - | |
| A nobler task was theirs who strove to win | P |
| The blood stained heathen to the Christian fold | E |
| To free from Satan's clutch the slaves of sin | P |
| Their labors too with loving grace he told | E |
| - | |
| Halting with feeble step or bending o'er | A |
| The sweet breathed roses which he loved so well | Q |
| While through long years his burdening cross he bore | R |
| From those firm lips no coward accents fell | Q |
| - | |
| A brave bright memory his the stainless shield | E |
| No shame defaces and no envy mars | S |
| When our far future's record is unsealed | E |
| His name will shine among its morning stars | S |
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(1)
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