Red Rock Camp. - A Tale Of Early Colorado Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFC GGHH CCII JJFF KKLL MNOO PPQQ PPRR FFSS TUVV WWCC XXYY JJZZ A2A2B2B2 RRFF C2C2D2D2 E2RVVGG| My simple story is of those times ere the magic power of steam | A |
| First whirled the traveller o'er the plains with the swiftness of a dream | A |
| Reducing to a few days' time the journey of many a week | B |
| That fell of old to the miner's lot ere he sighted tall Pikes Peak | B |
| - | |
| 'Neath liquid sunshine filling the air 'mid masses of wild flowers gay | C |
| A prairie waggon followed the track that led o'er the plains away | C |
| And most of those 'neath its canvas roof were of lawless type and rude | D |
| Miners broad chested and strongly built a reckless gold seeking brood | D |
| - | |
| Yet two of the number surely seemed most strangely out of place | E |
| A girl with fragile graceful form shy look and beauteous face | E |
| One who had wrought out the old old tale left her home and friends for aye | F |
| Braved family frowns and strangers' smiles love's promptings to obey | C |
| - | |
| And the lover husband at her side no miner rough was he | G |
| If we may believe the shapely hands as a woman's fair to see | G |
| But his tall lithe form so strongly knit firm mouth and look of pride | H |
| Told of iron will resolved to win a home for his darling bride | H |
| - | |
| Tender he was but the plains were vast toilsome and tedious the way | C |
| Developing soon the fever germs that within her latent lay | C |
| And daily the velvet azure eyes with a brighter lustre burned | I |
| And the hectic flush of the waxen cheek to a deeper carmine turned | I |
| - | |
| Oh dread was the time 'neath that canvas close when she bravely fought for breath | J |
| Fire in her veins while panting came each laboring painful breath | J |
| At length one eve she clasped his neck with a wild and wailing cry | F |
| O darling lay me on God's green earth 'neath his sun bright clouds to die | F |
| - | |
| Mutely the bridegroom caught her up after that touching appeal | K |
| Why refuse her prayer when on her brow was already set death's seal | K |
| To proffered help and rough words of hope to protests whispered low | L |
| He murmured Leave us go on your way Comrades it must be so | L |
| - | |
| Then in the eyes of those reckless men bright tears were glistening seen | M |
| For in their rugged though willing way most kindly had they been | N |
| No selfish fears of sickness dire had they shown by look or word | O |
| For whate'er of good dwelt within each heart that helpless girl had stirred | O |
| - | |
| They raised a tent and from their stores they brought the very best | P |
| Whisp'ring of speedy help to come as each clammy hand they pressed | P |
| Nay friends he said with a short sharp laugh more painful than sob to hear | Q |
| No help send back for myself and wife must perforce both settle here | Q |
| - | |
| Then he sat him down and placed her head on his aching throbbing breast | P |
| While the sweeping rush of the prairie winds seemed to bring relief and rest | P |
| And her dim eye watched without a shade of regret or passing pain | R |
| The receding waggon soon a speck on the wide and boundless plain | R |
| - | |
| O Will on your true and tender heart happy and calm I die | F |
| For I know our lives though severed here will be joined again on high | F |
| One kiss my husband loving and loved one clasp of thy strong kind hand | S |
| One farewell look in thy mournful eyes ere I pass to the Spirit Land | S |
| - | |
| But God what is this she wildly asks with hurried panting gasp | T |
| Her fingers have touched a weapon of death in her husband's hand close clasped | U |
| O surely you would not dare not go uncalled to your Maker's sight | V |
| Wife when passes your spirit away mine too shall take its flight | V |
| - | |
| It boots not to tell of the loving prayers that welled from that true wife's heart | W |
| She sued with an angels holy power a woman's winning art | W |
| Till that desp'rate man with quick low sob his weapon tossed away | C |
| And promised till came his Maker's call on this cheerless earth to stay | C |
| - | |
| Then sunshine lit up her wan white face and brightened her failing eyes | X |
| Enkindling upon her marble cheek the glow of the sunset skies | X |
| Closer she nestled unto his breast with a smile of childlike bliss | Y |
| Already a foretaste of yon bright Heaven is given me Will in this | Y |
| - | |
| A little while and the lashes drooped unstirred by life's faint breath | J |
| Whilst the sweet smile on the perfect lips was sealed for aye by Death | J |
| With the second sunset he laid her in her lonely prairie grave | Z |
| Then joined a passing miner's band that a friendly welcome gave | Z |
| - | |
| But as time sped on all wond'ring marked his silent lonely ways | A2 |
| And the brooding nature recking naught for blame nor mirth nor praise | A2 |
| At rudest tasks of the miner's toil with fevered zeal he wrought | B2 |
| But to its tempting golden spoils he gave nor word nor thought | B2 |
| - | |
| Soon want and toil and autumn rains brought fever in their train | R |
| And Red Rock Camp resounded with delirious moans of pain | R |
| And the healthy shrank from the fevered ones with hard unpitying eye | F |
| And heeding but their selfish fears left the sick unnursed to die | F |
| - | |
| Then unto the stranger in their midst new hope and vigor came | C2 |
| Enkindled swift in that nature grand by charity's ardent flame | C2 |
| He nursed the sick and buried the dead by the dying watched until | D2 |
| The grateful miners blessed the chance that had brought them Parson Will | D2 |
| - | |
| 'Twas thus they named him Health returned to the stricken camp again | E2 |
| One victim more the fever claimed 'twas he nor grief nor pain | R |
| Could be discerned in those patient eyes but they shone with a radiant light | V |
| As he whispered Joy and gladness come close after the cold dark night | V |
| A few short hours and from life's dull chain will my weary heart be free | G |
| Then Angel Wife my promise kept I go to God and thee | G |
Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon
(1)
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About Red Rock Camp. - A Tale Of Early Colorado
Red Rock Camp. - A Tale Of Early Colorado is a poem by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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