The Children Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBACDDDD DDEEBB FCCF CCDDCC C| These were our children who died for our lands they were dear in our sight | A |
| We have only the memory left of their hometreasured sayings and laughter | B |
| The price of our loss shall be paid to our hands not another's hereafter | B |
| Neither the Alien nor Priest shall decide on it That is our right | A |
| But who shall return us the children | C |
| At the hour the Barbarian chose to disclose his pretences | D |
| And raged against Man they engaged on the breasts that they bared for us | D |
| The first felon stroke of the sword he had longtime prepared for us | D |
| Their bodies were all our defence while we wrought our defences | D |
| - | |
| They bought us anew with their blood forbearing to blame us | D |
| Those hours which we had not made good when the Judgment o'ercame us | D |
| They believed us and perished for it Our statecraft our learning | E |
| Delivered them bound to the Pit and alive to the burning | E |
| Whither they mirthfully hastened as jostling for honour | B |
| Not since her birth has our Earth seen such worth loosed upon her | B |
| - | |
| Nor was their agony brief or once only imposed on them | F |
| The wounded the war spent the sick received no exemption | C |
| Being cured they returned and endured and achieved our redemption | C |
| Hopeless themselves of relief till Death marvelling closed on them | F |
| - | |
| That flesh we had nursed from the first in all cleanness was given | C |
| To corruption unveiled and assailed by the malice of Heaven | C |
| By the heart shaking jests of Decay where it lolled on the wires | D |
| To be blanched or gay painted by fumes to be cindered by fires | D |
| To be senselessly tossed and retossed in stale mutilation | C |
| From crater to crater For this we shall take expiation | C |
| - | |
| But who shall return us our children | C |
Rudyard Kipling
(1)
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