Ode To Maize Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFAGHII JKLIM NOPQRIISTUFVUFWURISI XRIM IYZA2B2S BFIBYBI C2D2S IE2F2G2IIFS H2ISII III2E2J2Q

America from a grainA
of maize you grewB
to crownC
with spacious landsD
the ocean foamE
A grain of maize was your geographyF
From the grainA
a green lance roseG
was covered with goldH
to grace the heightsI
of Peru with its yellow tasselsI
-
But poet letJ
history rest in its shroudK
praise with your lyreL
the grain in its granariesI
sing to the simple maize in the kitchenM
-
First a fine beardN
fluttered in the fieldO
above the tender teethP
of the young earQ
Then the husks partedR
and fruitfulness burst its veilsI
of pale papyrusI
that grains of laughterS
might fall upon the earthT
To the stoneU
in your journeyF
you returnedV
Not to the terrible stoneU
the bloodyF
triangle of Mexican deathW
but to the grinding stoneU
sacredR
stone of your kitchensI
There milk and matterS
strength giving nutritiousI
cornmeal pulpX
you were worked and pattedR
by the wondrous handsI
of dark skinned womenM
-
Wherever you fall maizeI
whether into theY
splendid pot of partridge or amongZ
country beans you light upA2
the meal and lend itB2
your virginal flavorS
-
Oh to bite intoB
the steaming ear beside the seaF
of distant song and deepest waltzI
To boil youB
as your aromaY
spreads throughB
blue sierrasI
-
But is thereC2
no endD2
to your treasureS
-
In chalky barren landsI
borderedE2
by the sea alongF2
the rocky Chilean coastG2
at timesI
only your radianceI
reaches the emptyF
table of the minerS
-
Your light your cornmeal your hopeH2
pervades America's solitudesI
and to hungerS
your lancesI
are enemy legionsI
-
Within your husksI
like gentle kernelsI
our sober provincialI2
children's hearts were nurturedE2
until life beganJ2
to shuck us from the earQ

Pablo Neruda



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