The Soldier's Home Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCDEEFFGHIIJKLLMM IINNOOPPQQIIRRSSTTUU VVWWBBXXKKYYZZMMA2A2 B2C2DCD2E2F2F2 HGG2G2VH2DCEETT G2G2I2I2H2H2 ZZDCJ2J2RC2K2K2L2L2M 2M2EEEN2N2O2O2P2P2Q2 Q2R2R2S2S2 T2T2U2V2BBP2P2PPC2C2 W2W2W2W2W2W2OOIIX2MW 2W2Y2Y2

My untried muse shall no high tone assumeA
Nor strut in arms farewell my cap and plumeA
Brief be my verse a task within my powerB
I tell my feelings in one happy hourB
But what an hour was that when from the mainC
I reach'd this lovely valley once againD
A glorious harvest fill'd my eager sightE
Half shock'd half waving in a flood of lightE
On that poor cottage roof where I was bornF
The sun look'd down as in life's early mornF
I gazed around but not a soul appear'dG
I listen'd on the threshold nothing heardH
I call'd my father thrice but no one cameI
It was not fear or grief that shook my frameI
But an o'erpowering sense of peace and homeJ
Of toils gone by perhaps of joys to comeK
The door invitingly stood open wideL
I shook my dust and set my staff asideL
How sweet it was to breathe that cooler airM
And take possession of my father's chairM
Beneath my elbow on the solid frameI
Appear'd the rough initials of my nameI
Cut forty years before the same old clockN
Struck the same bell and gave my heart a shockN
I never can forget A short breeze sprungO
And while a sigh was trembling on my tongueO
Caught the old dangling almanacks behindP
And up they flew like banners in the windP
Then gently singly down down down they wentQ
And told of twenty years that I had spentQ
Far from my native land that instant cameI
A robin on the threshold though so tameI
At first he look'd distrustful almost shyR
And cast on me his coal black stedfast eyeR
And seem'd to say past friendship to renewS
Ah ha old worn out soldier is it youS
Through the room ranged the imprison'd humble beeT
And bomb'd and bounced and straggled to be freeT
Dashing against the panes with sullen roarU
That threw their diamond sunlight on the floorU
That floor clean sanded where my fancy stray'dV
O'er undulating waves the broom had madeV
Reminding me of those of hideous formsW
That met us as we pass'd the Cape of StormsW
Where high and loud they break and peace comes neverB
They roll and foam and roll and foam for everB
But here was peace that peace which home can yieldX
The grasshopper the partridge in the fieldX
And ticking clock were all at once becomeK
The substitutes for clarion fife and drumK
While thus I mused still gazing gazing stillY
On beds of moss that spread the window sillY
I deem'd no moss my eyes had ever seenZ
Had been so lovely brilliant fresh and greenZ
And guess'd some infant hand had placed it thereM
And prized its hue so exquisite so rareM
Feelings on feelings mingling doubling roseA2
My heart felt every thing but calm reposeA2
I could not reckon minutes hours nor yearsB2
But rose at once and bursted into tearsC2
Then like a fool confused sat down againD
And thought upon the past with shame and painC
I raved at war and all its horrid costD2
And glory's quagmire where the brave are lostE2
On carnage fire and plunder long I musedF2
And cursed the murdering weapons I had usedF2
-
Two shadows then I saw two voices heardH
One bespoke age and one a child's appear'dG
In stepp'd my father with convulsive startG2
And in an instant clasp'd me to his heartG2
Close by him stood a little blue eyed maidV
And stooping to the child the old man saidH2
Come hither Nancy kiss me once againD
This is your uncle Charles come home from SpainC
The child approach'd and with her fingers lightE
Stroked my old eyes almost deprived of sightE
But why thus spin my tale thus tedious beT
Happy old Soldier what's the world to meT
-
-
-
Change is essential to the youthful heartG2
It cannot bound it cannot act its partG2
To one monotonous delight a slaveI2
E'en the proud poet's lines become its graveI2
By innate buoyancy by passion ledH2
It acts instinctively it will be fedH2
-
A troop of country lasses paced the greenZ
Tired of their seats and anxious to be seenZ
They pass'd Sir Ambrose turn'd and pass'd againD
Some lightly tripp'd to make their meaning plainC
The old man knew it well the thoughts of youthJ2
Came o'er his mind like consciousness of truthJ2
Or like a sunbeam through a lowering skyR
It gave him youth again and ecstacyC2
He joy'd to see them in this favourite spotK2
Who of fourscore or fifty score would notK2
He wink'd he nodded and then raised his handL2
'Twas seen and answer'd by the Oakly bandL2
Forth leap'd the light of heart and light of heelM2
E'en stiff limb'd age the kindling joy could feelM2
They form'd while yet the music started lightE
The grass beneath their feet was short and brightE
Where thirty couple danced with all their mightE
The Forester caught lasses one by oneN2
And twirl'd his glossy green against the sunN2
The Shepherd threw his doublet on the groundO2
And clapp'd his hands and many a partner foundO2
His hat loops bursted in the jocund frayP2
And floated o'er his head like blooming MayP2
Behind his heels his dog was barking loudQ2
And threading all the mazes of the crowdQ2
And had he boasted one had wagg'd his tailR2
And plainly said What can my master ailR2
To which the Shepherd had he been more coolS2
Had only said 'Tis Oakly feast you foolS2
-
But where was Philip he who danced so wellT2
Had he retired had pleasure broke her spellT2
No he had yielded to a tend'rer bondU2
He sat beside his own sick RosamondV2
Whose illness long deferr'd their wedding hourB
She wept and seem'd a lily in a showerB
She wept to see him 'midst a crowd so gayP2
For her sake lose the honours of the dayP2
But could a gentle youth be so unkindP
Would Philip dance and leave his girl behindP
She in her bosom hid a written prizeC2
Inestimably rich in Philip's eyesC2
The warm effusion of a heart that glow'dW2
With joy with love and hope by Heaven bestow'dW2
He woo'd he soothed and every art assay'dW2
To hush the scruples of the bashful maidW2
Drawing at length against her weak commandW2
Reluctantly the treasure from her handW2
And would have read but passion chain'd his tongueO
He turn'd aside and down the ballad flungO
And paused so long from feeling and from shameI
That old Sir Ambrose halloo'd him by nameI
Bring it to me my lad and never fearX2
I never blamed true love or scorn'd a tearM
They well become us e'en where branded mostW2
He came and made a proxy of his hostW2
Who as the dancers cooling join'd the throngY2
Eyed the fair writer as he read her songY2

Robert Bloomfield



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The Soldier's Home is a poem by Robert Bloomfield. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.



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