The Veteran Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EEFFGGHH IIJJGGGG KKLLGGMN OOPPQQGG| Underneath the autumn sky | A |
| Haltingly the lines go by | A |
| Ah would steps were blithe and gay | B |
| As when first they marched away | B |
| Smile on lip and curl on brow | C |
| Only white faced gray beards now | C |
| Standing on life's outer verge | D |
| E'en the marches sound a dirge | D |
| - | |
| Blow you bugles play you fife | E |
| Rattle drums for dearest life | E |
| Let the flags wave freely so | F |
| As the marching legions go | F |
| Shout hurrah and laugh and jest | G |
| This is memory at its best | G |
| Did you notice at your quip | H |
| That old comrade's quivering lip | H |
| - | |
| Ah I see them as they come | I |
| Stumbling with the rumbling drum | I |
| But a sight more sad to me | J |
| E'en than these ranks could be | J |
| Was that one with cane upraised | G |
| Who stood by and gazed and gazed | G |
| Trembling solemn lips compressed | G |
| Longing to be with the rest | G |
| - | |
| Did he dream of old alarms | K |
| As he stood presented arms | K |
| Did he think of field and camp | L |
| And the unremitting tramp | L |
| Mile on mile the lonely guard | G |
| When he kept his midnight ward | G |
| Did he dream of wounds and scars | M |
| In that bitter war of wars | N |
| - | |
| What of that He stood and stands | O |
| In my memory trembling hands | O |
| Whitened beard and cane and all | P |
| As if waiting for the call | P |
| Once again To arms my sons | Q |
| And his ears hear far off guns | Q |
| Roll of cannon and the tread | G |
| Of the legions of the Dead | G |
Paul Laurence Dunbar
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About The Veteran
The Veteran is a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about The Veteran poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Best Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar