Death In The Arctic Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDE FFAAGGHHIIFF A JJHHKKAALL MMNNIIOPAAGG A QQIIRRSSTTAA NNIIAAUU A VVIINNFFWWXX YZYZA2B2C2B2D2AD2A I E2E2WWF2F2G2G2LL GGDDH2H2LLGG A E2E2F2F2I2I2J2J2B2B2 K2E2K2E2K2E2K2E2K2E2 A JL2JM2RHRHN2O2N2O2JJ NNM2M2GGLL A AAP2P2 Q2R2Q2 E2 S2DT2DU2GU2GD2AD2AAA E2 EAEAUQ2UQ2V2AV2A

IA
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I took the clock down from the shelfB
At eight said I I shoot myselfB
It lacked a minute of the hourC
And as I waited all a cowerC
A skinful of black boding painD
Bits of my life came back againE
-
Mother there's nothing more to eatF
Why don't you go out on the streetF
Always you sit and cry and cryA
Here at my play I wonder whyA
Mother when you dress up at nightG
Red are your cheeks your eyes are brightG
Twining a ribband in your hairH
Kissing good bye you go down stairH
Then I'm as lonely as can beI
Oh how I wish you were with meI
Yet when you go out on the streetF
Mother there's always lots to eatF
-
IIA
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For days the igloo has been darkJ
But now the rag wick sends a sparkJ
That glitters in the icy airH
And wakes frost sapphires everywhereH
Bright bitter flames that adder likeK
Dart here and there yet fear to strikeK
The gruesome gloom wherein they lieA
My comrades oh so keen to dieA
And I the last well here I waitL
The clock to strike the hour of eightL
-
Boy it is bitter to be hurledM
Nameless and naked on the worldM
Frozen by night and starved by dayN
Curses and kicks and clouts your payN
But you must fight Boy look on meI
Anarch of all earth miseryI
Beggar and tramp and shameless sotO
Emblem of ill in rags that rotP
Would you be foul and base as IA
Oh it is better far to dieA
Swear to me now you'll fight and fightG
Boy or I'll kill you here to nightG
-
IIIA
-
Curse this silence soft and blackQ
Sting little light the shadows backQ
Dance little flame with freakish gleeI
Twinkle with brilliant mockeryI
Glitter on ice robed roof and floorR
Jewel the bear skin of the doorR
Gleam in my beard illume my breathS
Blanch the clock face that times my deathS
But do not pierce that murk so deepT
Where in their sleeping bags they sleepT
But do not linger where they lieA
They who had all the luck to dieA
-
There is nothing more to sayN
Let us part and go our wayN
Since it seems we can't agreeI
I will go across the seaI
Proud of heart and strong am IA
Not for woman will I sighA
Hold my head up gay and gladU
You can find another ladU
-
IVA
-
Above the igloo piteous fliesV
Our frayed flag to the frozen skiesV
Oh would you know how earth can beI
A hell go north of Eighty threeI
Go scan the snows day after dayN
And hope for help and pray and prayN
Have seal hide and sea lice to eatF
Melt water with your body's heatF
Sleep all the fell black winter throughW
Beside the dear dead men you knewW
The walrus blubber flares and gleamsX
O God how long a minute seemsX
-
Mary many a day has passedY
Since that morn of hot head youthZ
Come I back at last at lastY
Crushed with knowing of the truthZ
How through bitter barren yearsA2
You loved me and me aloneB2
Waited wearied wept your tearsC2
Oh could I atone atoneB2
I would pay a million foldD2
Pay you for the love you gaveA
Mary look down as of oldD2
I am kneeling by your graveA
-
VI
-
Olaf the Blonde was first to goE2
Bitten his eyes were by the snowE2
Sightless and sealed his eyes of blueW
So that he died before I knewW
Here in those poor weak arms he diedF2
Wolves will not get you lad I liedF2
For I will watch till Spring come roundG2
Slumber you shall beneath the groundG2
Oh how I lied I scarce can waitL
Strike little clock the hour of eightL
-
Comrade can you blame me quiteG
The horror of the long long nightG
Is on me and I've borne with painD
So long and hoped for help in vainD
So frail am I and blind and dazedH2
With scurvy sick with silence crazedH2
Beneath the Arctic's heel of hateL
Avid for Death I wait I waitL
Oh if I falter fail to fightG
Can you dear comrade blame me quiteG
-
VIA
-
Big Eric gave up months agoE2
But seldom do men suffer soE2
His feet sloughed off his fingers diedF2
His hands shrunk up and mummifiedF2
I had to feed him like a childI2
Yet he was valiant joked and smiledI2
Talked of his wife and little oneJ2
Thanks be to God that I have noneJ2
Passed in the night without a moanB2
Passed and I'm here alone aloneB2
-
I've got to kill you DickK2
Your life for mine you knowE2
Better to do it quickK2
A swift and sudden blowE2
See here's my hand to lickK2
A hug before you goE2
God but it makes me sickK2
Old dog I love you soE2
Forgive forgive me DickK2
A swift and sudden blowE2
-
VIIA
-
Often I start up in the darkJ
Thinking the sound of bells to hearL2
Often I wake from sleep Oh harkJ
Help it is coming near and nearM2
Blindly I reel toward the doorR
There the snow billows bleak and bareH
Blindly I seek my den once moreR
Silence and darkness and despairH
Oh it is all a dreadful dreamN2
Scurvy and cold and death and dearthO2
I will awake to warmth and gleamN2
Silvery seas and greening earthO2
Life is a dream its wakeningJ
Death gentle shadow of God's wingJ
-
Tick little clock my life awayN
Even a second seems a dayN
Even a minute seems a yearM2
Peopled with ghosts that press and peerM2
Into my face so charnel whiteG
Lit by the devilish dancing lightG
Tick little clock mete out my fateL
Tortured and tense I wait I waitL
-
VIIIA
-
Oh I have sworn the hour is nighA
When it strikes eight I die I dieA
Raise up the gun it stings my browP2
When it strikes eight all ready nowP2
-
-
-
Down from my hand the weapon droppedQ2
Wildly I staredR2
THE CLOCK HAD STOPPEDQ2
-
IXE2
-
Phantoms and fears and ghosts have goneS2
Peace seems to nestle in my brainD
Lo the clock stopped I'm living onT2
Heart sick I was and less than saneD
Yet do I scorn the thing I plannedU2
Hearing a voice O coward fightG
Then the clock stopped whose was the handU2
Maybe 'twas God's ah well all's rightG
Heap on me darkness fold on foldD2
Pain wrench and rack me What care IA
Leap on me hunger thirst and coldD2
I will await my time to dieA
Looking to Heaven that shines aboveA
Looking to God and love and loveA
-
XE2
-
Hark what is that Bells dogs againE
Is it a dream I sob and cryA
See the door opens fur clad menE
Rush to my rescue frail am IA
Feeble and dying dazed and gladU
There is the pistol where it droppedQ2
Boys it was hard but I'm not madU
Look at the clock it stopped it stoppedQ2
Carry me out The heavens smileV2
See there's an arch of gold aboveA
Now let me rest a little whileV2
Looking to God and Love and LoveA

Robert William Service



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