St. Anthony The Reformer Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BABA CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ KLKL MNMN OPOP| HIS TEMPTATION | A |
| - | |
| No fear lest praise should make us proud | B |
| We know how cheaply that is won | A |
| The idle homage of the crowd | B |
| Is proof of tasks as idly done | A |
| - | |
| A surface smile may pay the toil | C |
| That follows still the conquering Right | D |
| With soft white hands to dress the spoil | C |
| That sun browned valor clutched in fight | D |
| - | |
| Sing the sweet song of other days | E |
| Serenely placid safely true | F |
| And o'er the present's parching ways | E |
| The verse distils like evening dew | F |
| - | |
| But speak in words of living power | G |
| They fall like drops of scalding rain | H |
| That plashed before the burning shower | G |
| Swept o' er the cities of the plain | H |
| - | |
| Then scowling Hate turns deadly pale | I |
| Then Passion's half coiled adders spring | J |
| And smitten through their leprous mail | I |
| Strike right and left in hope to sting | J |
| - | |
| If thou unmoved by poisoning wrath | K |
| Thy feet on earth thy heart above | L |
| Canst walk in peace thy kingly path | K |
| Unchanged in trust unchilled in love | L |
| - | |
| Too kind for bitter words to grieve | M |
| Too firm for clamor to dismay | N |
| When Faith forbids thee to believe | M |
| And Meekness calls to disobey | N |
| - | |
| Ah then beware of mortal pride | O |
| The smiling pride that calmly scorns | P |
| Those foolish fingers crimson dyed | O |
| In laboring on thy crown of thorns | P |
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(1)
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