White Christmas Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH DIDJKLKL KMKMKNKN OPOPKQKQ KOKOKHKH RLRLPSPS KDHDSHSH| My folks think I'm a serving maid | A |
| Each time I visit home | B |
| They do not dream I ply a trade | A |
| As old as Greece or Rome | B |
| For if they found I'd fouled their name | C |
| And was not white as snow | D |
| I'm sure that they would die of shame | C |
| Please God they'll never know | D |
| - | |
| I clean the paint from off my face | E |
| In sober black I dress | F |
| Of coquetry I leave no trace | E |
| To give them vague distress | F |
| And though it causes me a pang | G |
| To play such sorry tricks | H |
| About my neck I meekly hang | G |
| A silver crufix | H |
| - | |
| And so with humble step I go | D |
| Just like a child again | I |
| To greet their Christmas candle glow | D |
| A soul without a stain | J |
| So well I play my contrite part | K |
| I make myself believe | L |
| There's not a stain within my heart | K |
| On Holy Christmas Eve | L |
| - | |
| With double natures we are vext | K |
| And what we feel we are | M |
| A saint one day a sinner next | K |
| A red light or a star | M |
| A prostitute or proselyte | K |
| And in each part sincere | N |
| So I become a vestal white | K |
| One week in every year | N |
| - | |
| For this I say without demur | O |
| From out life's lurid lore | P |
| Each righteous woman has in her | O |
| A tincture of the whore | P |
| While every harpy of the night | K |
| As I have learned too well | Q |
| Holds in her heart a heaven light | K |
| To ransom her from hell | Q |
| - | |
| So I'll go home and sweep and dust | K |
| I'll make the kitchen fire | O |
| And be a model of daughters just | K |
| The best they could desire | O |
| I'll fondle them and cook their food | K |
| And Mother dear will say | H |
| Thank God my darling is as good | K |
| As when she went away | H |
| - | |
| But after New Year's Day I'll fill | R |
| My bag and though they grieve | L |
| I'll bid them both good bye until | R |
| Another Christmas Eve | L |
| And then a knock upon the door | P |
| I'll find them waiting there | S |
| And angel like I'll come once more | P |
| In answer to their prayer | S |
| - | |
| Then Lo one night when candle light | K |
| Gleams mystic on the snow | D |
| And music swells of Christmas bells | H |
| I'll come no more to go | D |
| The old folks need my love and care | S |
| Their gold shall gild my dross | H |
| And evermore my breast shall bear | S |
| My little silver cross | H |
Robert Service
(3)
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Write your comment about White Christmas poem by Robert Service
mike brill: This poem makes me think of the ones who have no place or person to come home to. Robert's poems are catalysts for deeper thought one way or the other.
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