The Mysterious Visitor Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEFE GHIH JKGK LMNM OPQP RSLS TUVU WWXW YTZT WA2B2A2 C2D2WD2 WWE2W F2G2WG2 WWWW PJH2J I2TJ2T WH2WH2 GIK2I L2M2N2M2| THERE was a sound of hurrying feet | A |
| A tramp on echoing stairs | B |
| There was a rush along the aisles | C |
| It was the hour of prayers | B |
| - | |
| And on like Ocean's midnight wave | D |
| The current rolled along | E |
| When suddenly a stranger form | F |
| Was seen amidst the throng | E |
| - | |
| He was a dark and swarthy man | G |
| That uninvited guest | H |
| A faded coat of bottle green | I |
| Was buttoned round his breast | H |
| - | |
| There was not one among them all | J |
| Could say from whence he came | K |
| Nor beardless boy nor ancient man | G |
| Could tell that stranger's name | K |
| - | |
| All silent as the sheeted dead | L |
| In spite of sneer and frown | M |
| Fast by a gray haired senior's side | N |
| He sat him boldly down | M |
| - | |
| There was a look of horror flashed | O |
| From out the tutor's eyes | P |
| When all around him rose to pray | Q |
| The stranger did not rise | P |
| - | |
| A murmur broke along the crowd | R |
| The prayer was at an end | S |
| With ringing heels and measured tread | L |
| A hundred forms descend | S |
| - | |
| Through sounding aisle o'er grating stair | T |
| The long procession poured | U |
| Till all were gathered on the seats | V |
| Around the Commons board | U |
| - | |
| That fearful stranger down he sat | W |
| Unasked yet undismayed | W |
| And on his lip a rising smile | X |
| Of scorn or pleasure played | W |
| - | |
| He took his hat and hung it up | Y |
| With slow but earnest air | T |
| He stripped his coat from off his back | Z |
| And placed it on a chair | T |
| - | |
| Then from his nearest neighbor's side | W |
| A knife and plate he drew | A2 |
| And reaching out his hand again | B2 |
| He took his teacup too | A2 |
| - | |
| How fled the sugar from the bowl | C2 |
| How sunk the azure cream | D2 |
| They vanished like the shapes that float | W |
| Upon a summer's dream | D2 |
| - | |
| A long long draught an outstretched hand | W |
| And crackers toast and tea | W |
| They faded from the stranger's touch | E2 |
| Like dew upon the sea | W |
| - | |
| Then clouds were dark on many a brow | F2 |
| Fear sat upon their souls | G2 |
| And in a bitter agony | W |
| They clasped their buttered rolls | G2 |
| - | |
| A whisper trembled through the crowd | W |
| Who could the stranger be | W |
| And some were silent for they thought | W |
| A cannibal was he | W |
| - | |
| What if the creature should arise | P |
| For he was stout and tall | J |
| And swallow down a sophomore | H2 |
| Coat crow's foot cap and all | J |
| - | |
| All sullenly the stranger rose | I2 |
| They sat in mute despair | T |
| He took his hat from off the peg | J2 |
| His coat from off the chair | T |
| - | |
| Four freshmen fainted on the seat | W |
| Six swooned upon the floor | H2 |
| Yet on the fearful being passed | W |
| And shut the chapel door | H2 |
| - | |
| There is full many a starving man | G |
| That walks in bottle green | I |
| But never more that hungry one | K2 |
| In Commons hall was seen | I |
| - | |
| Yet often at the sunset hour | L2 |
| When tolls the evening bell | M2 |
| The freshman lingers on the steps | N2 |
| That frightful tale to tell | M2 |
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(1)
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About The Mysterious Visitor
The Mysterious Visitor is a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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