God's Witnesses. A Pen Picture From The Old Testament Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH BBII EEJJ KLMM HHAN JJMM OOII IIPP QQRR DDSM TTNN UUVV RRWW IIPP PPAA ANRR HHDD PPII XXYY PPZZ A2A2B2C2| Upon the plain of Dura stood an image great and high | A |
| With golden forehead broad and bright beneath the morning sky | A |
| All regal in its majesty and kingly in its mien | B |
| The grandest and most glorious thing the world had ever seen | B |
| - | |
| Full sixty cubits high in air the lordly head was reared | C |
| And robed in gold from head to foot the stately form appeared | C |
| Adown the breast six cubits broad a flood of yellow gold | D |
| All deftly wrought with matchless skill its shining tresses rolled | D |
| - | |
| And fronting thus the rising sun it sent back ray for ray | E |
| A golden flood of arrowy light into the face of day | E |
| While round its feet in awe and dread all Shinar stood amazed | F |
| And up into that radiant face with reverent wonder gazed | F |
| - | |
| Woke sackbut psaltery and harp woke dulcimer and flute | G |
| Then prone in dust fell prince and peer in lowly worship mute | G |
| The wise the gifted and the great the lordly and the base | H |
| Before the image bent the knee and bowed in dust the face | H |
| - | |
| Not all for lo three princely men with calm unaltered mien | B |
| With unbowed heads and folded arms gaze on the unhallowed scene | B |
| The golden image awes them not nor yet the king's decree | I |
| They bow not at the idol's shrine nor bend the servile knee | I |
| - | |
| Wake sackbut psaltery and harp wake yet again but nay | E |
| With calm pale faces sad and stern they slowly turn away | E |
| The monarch's wrath the furnace flame death death they know it all | J |
| Yet all these horrors powerless are those high hearts to appal | J |
| - | |
| Haste haste obsequious minions bear the tidings to your lord | K |
| Go tell him there are some who dare to disobey his word | L |
| Men of the captive Hebrew race men high in place and power | M |
| Who scorn to bow their haughty necks at his command this hour | M |
| - | |
| Go bring them nigh the monarch cries with fury in his face | H |
| And set them here before my throne these men of Hebrew race | H |
| Now Shadrach Meshach answer me and thou Abednego | A |
| They tell me ye refuse to bow and worship is it so | N |
| - | |
| But hearken if what time ye hear once more the pealing swell | J |
| Of sackbut psaltery and harp ye bend in homage well | J |
| If not the fiery furnace shall your quivering flesh devour | M |
| Then where's the God can rescue you from my avenging power | M |
| - | |
| Then answered they the captive three in calm respectful tone | O |
| While over each young fearless brow faith's hallowed radiance shone | O |
| Behold our God is for us now our God O King and He | I |
| Is able to deliver us from the fierce flames and thee | I |
| - | |
| Yea and He will deliver us yet be it known to thee | I |
| O King that could we truly know that so it would not be | I |
| E'en then we would not bow us down or worship at the shrine | P |
| Of this vain image thou hast reared or any god of thine | P |
| - | |
| Now lead ye forth these haughty men the wrathful monarch cried | Q |
| The while his face grew dark with rage and fury so defied | Q |
| Yea heat the furnace seven fold and in the fiercest flame | R |
| Blot out forever from the day each impious scorner's name | R |
| - | |
| Ay bind them well ye mighty men ye warriors stern and bold | D |
| And let your cords be very strong your fetters manifold | D |
| For neither they nor He they trust shall foil my kingly ire | S |
| Or save them from the wrathful flame of this devouring fire | M |
| - | |
| Now cast them in but oh my men they fade like morning mist | T |
| Slain by the fierce out leaping flame no mortal may resist | T |
| My warriors bold alas alas I did not will it so | N |
| Scathed by the fiery blast of death meant only for my foe | N |
| - | |
| The king has risen to his feet what sight has fixed his gaze | U |
| What mean the wonder in his face the look of blank amaze | U |
| And what the changed and falt'ring voice as doubtfully he cries | V |
| Tell me ye counsellors of mine ye ancient men and wise | V |
| - | |
| Did we not cast each firmly bound into the fiercest flame | R |
| Three mortal men for death designed of Hebrew race and name | R |
| Three only three or do I dream What sight is this I view | W |
| And all his counsellors replied O monarch it is true | W |
| - | |
| Yet now amid the blinding flames unbound and calm and free | I |
| Walking with firm and steady step the fiery waves I see | I |
| Not three but four and lo the form of Him the fourth I ween | P |
| Is like the Son of God so calm so gracious is His mien | P |
| - | |
| Then to the furnace mouth drew near the monarch with his train | P |
| The baffled monarch bowed and quelled feeling how poor and vain | P |
| Were all his boasted pomp and power how impotent and Week | A |
| The arm so void of strength that hour his mad revenge to wreak | A |
| - | |
| Ho Shadrach Meshach hasten ye and thou Abednego | A |
| Servants of God Most High come forth the monarch cried and lo | N |
| Without a touch or tinge of fire or smell of scorching flame | R |
| Forth from the glowing heat intense God's faithful servants came | R |
| - | |
| O servants of a heathen king all vainly would ye trace | H |
| Or hue or stain or smell of fire on any form or face | H |
| Those comely locks of raven hair smooth and unscorched behold | D |
| Nor may ye find one trace of flame on any garment's fold | D |
| - | |
| Then cried the heathen king again and oh how altered now | P |
| The tone and utterance how changed the haughty lip and brow | P |
| Now blessed be the God who hath His angel sent to free | I |
| His servants who have trusted Him and changed the King's decree | I |
| - | |
| Who gave their bodies to the flame rather than once to swerve | X |
| From their allegiance to the God whom they delight to serve | X |
| Therefore let no one speak against this Glorious One and Just | Y |
| Who saves as none but He can save the souls that in Him trust | Y |
| - | |
| Then calmly to their wonted toil their worldly cares again | P |
| Unconscious of their deathless fame went forth those dauntless men | P |
| Thrice blessed men with whom that day their gracious Lord had walked | Z |
| And lovingly as friend with friend of hallowed mysteries talked | Z |
| - | |
| He walked with them amid the flames Oh to the paths we tread | A2 |
| The brighter smoother greener paths with summer flowers o'erspread | A2 |
| If but our weak hearts welcome Him the same dear Lord will come | B2 |
| And walk with us through countless snares till we arrive at home | C2 |
Pamela S. Vining, (j. C. Yule)
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about God's Witnesses. A Pen Picture From The Old Testament poem by Pamela S. Vining, (j. C. Yule)
Best Poems of Pamela S. Vining, (j. C. Yule)