Arnold Rode Behind Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEFE G HI JKLK MNCN EOPO QRSR TOUO IGVG WWX YWZW KAA2A OWB2W WOC2O WWD2W WWWW E2WOW F2G2H2G2 WXI2 J2WK2W WL2WL2 M2G2WG2 N2WO2W P2WQ2W| WE galloped down the sodden track | A |
| Close buttoned 'gainst the wind | B |
| I took the lead with whip and spur | C |
| And Arnold rode behind | B |
| - | |
| The skies were wild a rending gale | D |
| Ran roaring through the trees | E |
| It sounded now like shouting hosts | F |
| And now like angry seas | E |
| - | |
| 'Spur on Spur on ' I turned and cried | G |
| 'The fatal moments fly ' | - |
| I cursed him then his trembling hand | H |
| I cursed his bloodshot eye | I |
| - | |
| I cursed him for the lust of drink | J |
| That held his will a slave | K |
| For skill to tend and mend was his | L |
| To succour and to save | K |
| - | |
| I thought of her the golden girl | M |
| My life my love nigh spent | N |
| Nigh death with fever clutching her | C |
| And what his coming meant | N |
| - | |
| Through driving rain and tossing trees | E |
| I saw her pale with pain | O |
| And if my eyes grew wet perchance | P |
| 'Twas not the wet of rain | O |
| - | |
| I turned on Arnold and I vowed | Q |
| To pay with coin of hate | R |
| His ten mile ride his boasted skill | S |
| If he should prove too late | R |
| - | |
| I mixed my words with searing scorn | T |
| And turned and told him plain | O |
| Of how I found him stupid drugged | U |
| With dull and sluggish brain | O |
| - | |
| And how the wasted hours went by | I |
| I waiting by his side | G |
| Till he should wake and be himself | V |
| And mount his horse and ride | G |
| - | |
| And 'Arnold if she die' I said | W |
| 'Be yours the lot accurst | W |
| In life to thirst to thirst in death | X |
| In Hell to thirst and thirst ' | - |
| - | |
| And so with black and bitter words | Y |
| Close buttoned 'gainst the wind | W |
| With whip and spur I galloped on | Z |
| And Arnold rode behind | W |
| - | |
| No word he said no answer gave | K |
| No bitter curse flung back | A |
| But sagging in the saddle sank | A2 |
| A shamed thing in my track | A |
| - | |
| The skies were lead and leaden rain | O |
| A screen of sullen lead | W |
| A wind blown screen a blinding screen | B2 |
| Fell down from overhead | W |
| - | |
| Though cattle die and pastures fade | W |
| With drought on hill and plain | O |
| 'Fore God I pray I may not see | C2 |
| The like of that blind rain | O |
| - | |
| The torn leaves swirled about my head | W |
| The gum trees tall and stout | W |
| Waved limbs and tossed tormented crests | D2 |
| As in a forest rout | W |
| - | |
| The wind was now like hounds a hunt | W |
| And now like hounds that whined | W |
| Yet ever on and on I rode | W |
| And Arnold rode behind | W |
| - | |
| And soon there rose a mighty noise | E2 |
| Above the wind it roared | W |
| And bursting through the screen of rain | O |
| We came to Kelvin's Ford | W |
| - | |
| I reined my horse in mute amaze | F2 |
| A stunned and stricken man | G2 |
| For 'twixt me and my heart's own love | H2 |
| A thwarting river ran | G2 |
| - | |
| I looked upon its maddened waste | W |
| I drew a broken breath | X |
| I said ' Tis hopeless ended all | I2 |
| To dare the Ford were death ' | - |
| - | |
| The wind was like a pack of hounds | J2 |
| Upon a forest hunt | W |
| And then I heard a splash of hoofs | K2 |
| And Arnold rode in front | W |
| - | |
| His face was lit I vow 'twas lit | W |
| Like glorious evening skies | L2 |
| And as he turned and smiled flashed out | W |
| The manhood from his eyes | L2 |
| - | |
| And then I knew that through his soul | M2 |
| A dauntless purpose ran | G2 |
| As shaking shame and sin aside | W |
| He rose once more a Man | G2 |
| - | |
| He fought the river inch by inch | N2 |
| Set will against its might | W |
| Gave way with it and came again | O2 |
| And conquered in the fight | W |
| - | |
| And saved Her conquered Death as well | P2 |
| Heart so dull so blind | W |
| Oft times denied his chance in life | Q2 |
| The hero rides behind | W |
Roderic Quinn
(1)
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