Three Day's Ride Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AB CC DDEEFFGHHI JJA KKLLKK MMNN OOPPQQA RRSHT SUUPPPPV VCWWCXXY PPP YNZPPZZA2A2P B2B2C2C2QQP PD2FE2E2PPZZ PPPPF2G2G2YH2H2PI2I2 PJ2J2J2J2 WW PRRPDDZZPPP

'From Belton Castle to Solway sideA
Hard by the bridge is three days' ride 'B
-
We had fled full fast from her father's keepC
And the time was come that we must sleepC
-
The first day was an ecstasyD
A golden mist a burgeoning treeD
We rode like gods through a world new madeE
The hawthorn scented hill and gladeE
A faint still sweetness in the airF
And oh her face and the wind in her hairF
And the steady beat of our good steeds' hoovesG
Bearing us northward strong and fastH
To my high black tower stark to the blastH
Like a swimmer stripped where the Solway movesI
-
And ever riding we chanted a songJ
Challenging Fortune loud and longJ
'From Belton Castle to Solway sideA
Strive as you may is three days' ride '-
-
She slept for an hour wrapped in my cloakK
And I watched her till the morning brokeK
The second day and a harsher landL
And grey bare hills on either handL
A surly land and a sullen folkK
And a fog that came like bitter smokeK
-
The road wound on like a twisted snakeM
And our horses sobbed as they topped the brakeM
Till we sprang to earth at Wyvern FenN
Where fresh steeds stamped and were off againN
-
Weary and sleepless bruised and wornO
We still had strength for laughter and scornO
Love held us up through the mire and mistP
Love fed us while we clasped and kissedP
And still we sang as the night closed inQ
Stealthy and slow as a hidden sinQ
'From Belton Castle to Solway sideA
Ride how you will is three days' ride '-
-
My love drooped low on the black mare's backR
Drowned in her hair the reins went slackR
Yet she could not sleep save to dream bad dreamsS
And wake all trembling till at lastH
Her golden head lay on my breastT
-
At last we saw the first faint gleamsS
Of day Dawn broke A sickly lightU
Came from the withered sun a blightU
Was on the land and poisonous mistP
Shrouded the rotting trees unkissedP
By any wind and the black crags glaredP
Like sightless awful faces sparedP
From death to live accursed for ayeV
-
Dragging slow chains the hours went byV
We rode on drunk and drugged with sleepC
Too deadly weary now to sayW
Whether our horses kept the wayW
Or no like slaves stretched on a heapC
Of poisoned arrows Every limbX
Shot with sharp pain pain seemed to swimX
Like a red cloud before our eyesY
-
The mist broke and a moment showedP
Sharp as the Devil's oxen goadP
The spear points where the hot chase rodeP
-
Idly I watched them dance and riseY
Till white wreaths wiped them out againN
My love jerked at the bridle reinZ
The black mare dying broke her heartP
In one swift gallop for my partP
I dozed and ever in my brainZ
Four hoofs of fire beat out refrainZ
A dirge to light us down to deathA2
A silly rhyme that saith and saithA2
'From Belton Castle to Solway sideP
Though great hearts break is three days' ride '-
The black mare staggered reeled and fellB2
Bearing my love down a great bellB2
Began to toll and sudden fireC2
Flared at me from the road a pyreC2
It seemed to burn our bodies inQ
And I fell down far down withinQ
The pit's mouth and my brain went blindP
-
I woke a cold sun rose behindP
Black evil hills my love knelt nearD2
Beside a stream her golden hairF
Streaming across the grass belowE2
The Solway eddied to and froE2
White with fierce whirlpools my love turnedP
Thank God some hours of joy are burnedP
Into the mind and will remainZ
Fierce blazing still in spite of painZ
-
They came behind us as we kissedP
Stealthily from the dripping mistP
Her brothers and their evil bandP
They bound me fast and made me standP
They forced her down upon her kneesF2
She did not strive or cry or callG2
But knelt there dumb before them allG2
I could not turn away my eyesY
There was no fear upon her faceH2
Although they slew her in that placeH2
The daggers rent and tore her breastP
Like dogs that snarl above a killI2
Her proud face gazed above them stillI2
Seeking rest Oh seeking restP
The blood swept like a crimson dressJ2
Over her bosom's nakednessJ2
A curtain for her weary eyesJ2
A muffling cloth to stop her sighsJ2
-
And she was gone and a red thing layW
Silent on the trampled clayW
-
Beneath my horse my feet are boundP
My hands are bound behind my backR
I feel the sinews start to crackR
And ever to the hoof beats' soundP
As we draw near the gallows treeD
Where I shall hang right speedilyD
A crazy tune rings in my brainZ
Four hoofs of fire tramp the refrainZ
Crashing clear o'er the roaring crowdP
Steadily galloping strong and loudP
'From Belton Castle to Solway sideP
Hard by the bridge is three days' ride '-

Stephen Vincent Benet



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