The Titmouse Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AAAABBCCDEAAFFGGHHAA AA IIJJAAKKL AAAAAAMMNN OONNNNNNNAABBNNPPQRS T UGVVWWXXYYZZA AAA2A2AAB2B2IIAAIIWW AAAAC2NNNWA2

You shall not be overboldA
When you deal with arctic coldA
As late I found my lukewarm bloodA
Chilled wading in the snow choked woodA
How should I fight my foeman fineB
Has million arms to one of mineB
East west for aid I looked in vainC
East west north south are his domainC
Miles off three dangerous miles is homeD
Must borrow his winds who there would comeE
Up and away for life be fleetA
The frost king ties my fumbling feetA
Sings in my ears my hands are stonesF
Curdles the blood to the marble bonesF
Tugs at the heart strings numbs the senseG
And hems in life with narrowing fenceG
Well in this broad bed lie and sleepH
The punctual stars will vigil keepH
Embalmed by purifying coldA
The winds shall sing their dead march oldA
The snow is no ignoble shroudA
The moon thy mourner and the cloudA
-
Softly but this way fate was pointingI
'T was coming fast to such anointingI
When piped a tiny voice hard byJ
Gay and polite a cheerful cryJ
Chic chicadeedee saucy noteA
Out of sound heart and merry throatA
As if it said 'Good day good sirK
Fine afternoon old passengerK
Happy to meet you in these placesL
Where January brings few faces '-
-
This poet though he live apartA
Moved by his hospitable heartA
Sped when I passed his sylvan fortA
To do the honours of his courtA
As fits a feathered lord of landA
Flew near with soft wing grazed my handA
Hopped on the bough then darting lowM
Prints his small impress on the snowM
Shows feats of his gymnastic playN
Head downward clinging to the sprayN
-
Here was this atom in full breathO
Hurling defiance at vast deathO
This scrap of valour just for playN
Fronts the north wind in waistcoat grayN
As if to shame my weak behaviourN
I greeted loud my little saviourN
'You pet what dost here and what forN
In these woods thy small LabradorN
At this pinch wee San SalvadorN
What fire burns in that little chestA
So frolic stout and self possestA
Henceforth I wear no stripe but thineB
Ashes and jet all hues outshineB
Why are not diamonds black and grayN
To ape thy dare devil arrayN
And I affirm the spacious NorthP
Exists to draw thy virtue forthP
I think no virtue goes with sizeQ
The reason of all cowardiceR
Is that men are overgrownS
And to be valiant must come downT
To the titmouse dimension '-
-
'T is good will makes intelligenceU
And I began to catch the senseG
Of my bird's song 'Live out of doorsV
In the great woods on prairie floorsV
I dine in the sun when he sinks in the seaW
I too have a hole in a hollow treeW
And I like less when Summer beatsX
With stifling beams on these retreatsX
Than noontide twilights which snow makesY
With tempest of the blinding flakesY
For well the soul if stout withinZ
Can arm impregnably the skinZ
And polar frost my frame defiedA
Made of the air that blows outside '-
-
With glad remembrance of my debtA
I homeward turn farewell my petA
When here again thy pilgrim comesA2
He shall bring store of seeds and crumbsA2
Doubt not so long as earth has breadA
Thou first and foremost shalt be fedA
The Providence that is most largeB2
Takes hearts like thine in special chargeB2
Helps who for their own need are strongI
And the sky dotes on cheerful songI
Henceforth I prize thy wiry chantA
O'er all that mass and minster vauntA
For men mis hear thy call in springI
As 't would accost some frivolous wingI
Crying out of the hazel copse Phe beW
And in winter Chic a dee deeW
I think old Caesar must have heardA
In northern Gaul my dauntless birdA
And echoed in some frosty woldA
Borrowed thy battle numbers boldA
And I will write our annals newC2
And thank thee for a better clewN
I who dreamed not when I came hereN
To find the antidote of fearN
Now hear thee say in Roman keyW
Paean Veni vidi viciA2

Ralph Waldo Emerson



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about The Titmouse poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson


 
Best Poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 7 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets