The Church-builder Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCCB DEDFBBE EGEGBBG HBHBBBB BIBJHHJ EBEBBBB KBKBLLB BMBMHHM NENEHHE HOHOPPO QRQRSSR HEHPTTE| The church flings forth a battled shade | A |
| Over the moon blanched sward | B |
| The church my gift whereto I paid | A |
| My all in hand and hoard | B |
| Lavished my gains | C |
| With stintless pains | C |
| To glorify the Lord | B |
| - | |
| I squared the broad foundations in | D |
| Of ashlared masonry | E |
| I moulded mullions thick and thin | D |
| Hewed fillet and ogee | F |
| I circleted | B |
| Each sculptured head | B |
| With nimb and canopy | E |
| - | |
| I called in many a craftsmaster | E |
| To fix emblazoned glass | G |
| To figure Cross and Sepulchure | E |
| On dossal boss and brass | G |
| My gold all spent | B |
| My jewels went | B |
| To gem the cups of Mass | G |
| - | |
| I borrowed deep to carve the screen | H |
| And raise the ivoried Rood | B |
| I parted with my small demesne | H |
| To make my owings good | B |
| Heir looms unpriced | B |
| I sacrificed | B |
| Until debt free I stood | B |
| - | |
| So closed the task Deathless the Creed | B |
| Here substanced said my soul | I |
| I heard me bidden to this deed | B |
| And straight obeyed the call | J |
| Illume this fane | H |
| That not in vain | H |
| I build it Lord of all | J |
| - | |
| But as it chanced me then and there | E |
| Did dire misfortunes burst | B |
| My home went waste for lack of care | E |
| My sons rebelled and curst | B |
| Till I confessed | B |
| That aims the best | B |
| Were looking like the worst | B |
| - | |
| Enkindled by my votive work | K |
| No burnng faith I find | B |
| The deeper thinkers sneer and smirk | K |
| And give my toil no mind | B |
| From nod and wink | L |
| I read they think | L |
| That I am fool and blind | B |
| - | |
| My gift to God seems futile quite | B |
| The world moves as erstwhile | M |
| And powerful Wrong on feeble Right | B |
| Tramples in olden style | M |
| My faith burns down | H |
| I see no crown | H |
| But Cares and Griefs and Guile | M |
| - | |
| So now the remedy Yea this | N |
| I gently swing the door | E |
| Here of my fane no soul to wis | N |
| And cross the patterned floor | E |
| To the rood screen | H |
| That stands between | H |
| The nave and inner chore | E |
| - | |
| The rich red windows dim the moon | H |
| But little light need I | O |
| I mount the prie dieu lately hewn | H |
| From woods of rarest dye | O |
| Then from below | P |
| My garment so | P |
| I draw this cord and tie | O |
| - | |
| One end thereof around the beam | Q |
| Midway 'twixt Cross and truss | R |
| I noose the nethermost extreme | Q |
| And in ten seconds thus | R |
| I journey hence | S |
| To that land whence | S |
| No rumour reaches us | R |
| - | |
| Well Here at morn they'll light on one | H |
| Dangling in mockery | E |
| Of what he spent his substance on | H |
| Blindly and uselessly | P |
| He might they'll say | T |
| Have built some way | T |
| A cheaper gallows tree | E |
Thomas Hardy
(1)
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About The Church-builder
The Church-builder is a poem by Thomas Hardy. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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