The Cumberland Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACCB DEDDDE DFDGGF HIHJJI DKD IL MNMGGN AIAOOI DPDKLP| At anchor in Hampton Roads we lay | A |
| On board of the Cumberland sloop of war | B |
| And at times from the fortress across the bay | A |
| The alarum of drums swept past | C |
| Or a bugle blast | C |
| From the camp on the shore | B |
| - | |
| - | |
| Then far away to the south uprose | D |
| A little feather of snow white smoke | E |
| And we knew that the iron ship of our foes | D |
| Was steadily steering its course | D |
| To try the force | D |
| Of our ribs of oak | E |
| - | |
| - | |
| Down upon us heavily runs | D |
| Silent and sullen the floating fort | F |
| Then comes a puff of smoke from her guns | D |
| And leaps the terrible death | G |
| With fiery breath | G |
| From each open port | F |
| - | |
| - | |
| We are not idle but send her straight | H |
| Defiance back in a full broadside | I |
| As hail rebounds from a roof of slate | H |
| Rebounds our heavier hail | J |
| From each iron scale | J |
| Of the monster's hide | I |
| - | |
| - | |
| 'Strike your flag ' the rebel cries | D |
| In his arrogant old plantation strain | K |
| 'Never ' our gallant Morris replies | D |
| 'It is better to sink than to yield ' | - |
| And the whole air pealed | I |
| With the cheers of our men | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| Then like a kraken huge and black | M |
| She crushed our ribs in her iron grasp | N |
| Down went the Cumberland all a wrack | M |
| With a sudden shudder of death | G |
| And the cannon's breath | G |
| For her dying gasp | N |
| - | |
| - | |
| Next morn as the sun rose over the bay | A |
| Still floated our flag at the mainmast head | I |
| Lord how beautiful was Thy day | A |
| Every waft of the air | O |
| Was a whisper of prayer | O |
| Or a dirge for the dead | I |
| - | |
| - | |
| Ho brave hearts that went down in the seas | D |
| Ye are at peace in the troubled stream | P |
| Ho brave land with hearts like these | D |
| Thy flag that is rent in twain | K |
| Shall be one again | L |
| And without a seam | P |
Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1)
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