The Iron Gate Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB ACAC DEFE GHGH IJIJ KLKM NONO PQPQ IRIR STST UVUV SWSW AMAX USUS SYSY UZUZ A2BA2B SSSS UB2UI GC2GC2

WHERE is this patriarch you are kindly greetingA
Not unfamiliar to my ear his nameB
Nor yet unknown to many a joyous meetingA
In days long vanished is he still the sameB
-
Or changed by years forgotten and forgettingA
Dull eared dim sighted slow of speech and thoughtC
Still o'er the sad degenerate present frettingA
Where all goes wrong and nothing as it oughtC
-
Old age the graybeard Well indeed I know himD
Shrunk tottering bent of aches and ills the preyE
In sermon story fable picture poemF
Oft have I met him from my earliest dayE
-
In my old Aesop toiling with his bundleG
His load of sticks politely asking DeathH
Who comes when called for would he lug or trundleG
His fagot for him he was scant of breathH
-
And sad Ecclesiastes or the PreacherI
Has he not stamped tbe image on my soulJ
In that last chapter where the worn out TeacherI
Sighs o'er the loosened cord the broken bowlJ
-
Yes long indeed I 've known him at a distanceK
And now my lifted door latch shows him hereL
I take his shrivelled hand without resistanceK
And find him smiling as his step draws nearM
-
What though of gilded baubles he bereaves usN
Dear to the heart of youth to manhood's primeO
Think of the calm he brings the wealth he leaves usN
The hoarded spoils the legacies of timeO
-
Altars once flaming still with incense fragrantP
Passion's uneasy nurslings rocked asleepQ
Hope's anchor faster wild desire less vagrantP
Life's flow less noisy but the stream how deepQ
-
Still as the silver cord gets worn and slenderI
Its lightened task work tugs with lessening strainR
Hands get more helpful voices grown more tenderI
Soothe with their softened tones the slumberous brainR
-
Youth longs and manhood strives but age remembersS
Sits by the raked up ashes of the pastT
Spreads its thin hands above the whitening embersS
That warm its creeping life blood till the lastT
-
Dear to its heart is every loving tokenU
That comes unbidden era its pulse grows coldV
Ere the last lingering ties of life are brokenU
Its labors ended and its story toldV
-
Ah while around us rosy youth rejoicesS
For us the sorrow laden breezes sighW
And through the chorus of its jocund voicesS
Throbs the sharp note of misery's hopeless cryW
-
As on the gauzy wings of fancy flyingA
From some far orb I track our watery sphereM
Home of the struggling suffering doubting dyingA
The silvered globule seems a glistening tearX
-
But Nature lends her mirror of illusionU
To win from saddening scenes our age dimmed eyesS
And misty day dreams blend in sweet confusionU
The wintry landscape and the summer skiesS
-
So when the iron portal shuts behind usS
And life forgets us in its noise and whirlY
Visions that shunned the glaring noonday find usS
And glimmering starlight shows the gates of pearlY
-
I come not here your morning hour to saddenU
A limping pilgrim leaning on his staffZ
I who have never deemed it sin to gladdenU
This vale of sorrows with a wholesome laughZ
-
If word of mine another's gloom has brightenedA2
Through my dumb lips the heaven sent message cameB
If hand of mine another's task has lightenedA2
It felt the guidance that it dares not claimB
-
But O my gentle sisters O my brothersS
These thick sown snow flakes hint of toil's releaseS
These feebler pulses bid me leave to othersS
The tasks once welcome evening asks for peaceS
-
Time claims his tribute silence now goldenU
Let me not vex the too long suffering lyreB2
Though to your love untiring still beholdenU
The curfew tells me cover up the fireI
-
And now with grateful smile and accents cheerfulG
And warmer heart than look or word can tellC2
In simplest phrase these traitorous eyes are tearfulG
Thanks Brothers Sisters Children and farewellC2

Oliver Wendell Holmes



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