The Jingo And The Minstrel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AB CDEFBC GCCHCAIJI KLHMHHENE HOPCPECCC ECCCHQCQ HRCECNCSC HCTCTHCJC ECCCSESE UHVHECHC CSTSHCHC EHCHEEEE

An Argument for the Maintenance of Peace and GoodwillA
with the Japanese PeopleB
-
Glossary for the uninstructed and the hasty Jimmu TennoC
ancestor of all the Japanese Emperors Nikko Japan'sD
loveliest shrine Iyeyasu her greatest statesman BushidoE
her code of knighthood The Forty seven Ronins her classicF
heroes Nogi her latest hero Fuji her most beautifulB
mountainC
-
-
The minstrel speaksG
Now do you know of AvalonC
That sailors call JapanC
She holds as rare a chivalryH
As ever bled for manC
King Arthur sleeps at Nikko hillA
Where Iyeyasu liesI
And there the broad Pendragon flagJ
In deathless splendor fliesI
-
The jingo answersK
Nay minstrel but the great ships comeL
From out the sunset seaH
We cannot greet the souls they bringM
With welcome high and freeH
How can the Nippon nondescriptsH
That weird and dreadful bandE
Be aught but what we find them hereN
The blasters of the landE
-
The minstrel repliesH
First race first men from anywhereO
To face you eye to eyeP
For that do you curse AvalonC
And raise a hue and cryP
These toilers cannot kiss your handE
Or fawn with hearts bowed downC
Be glad for them and AvalonC
And Arthur's ghostly crownC
-
No doubt your guests with sage debateE
In grave things gentlemenC
Will let your trade and farms aloneC
And turn them back againC
But why should brawling braggarts riseH
With hasty words of shameQ
To drive them back like dogs and swineC
Who in due honor cameQ
-
The jingo answersH
We cannot give them honor sirR
We give them scorn for scornC
And Rumor steals around the worldE
All white skinned men to warnC
Against this sleek silk merchant hereN
And viler coolie manC
And wrath within the courts of warS
Brews on against JapanC
-
The minstrel repliesH
Must Avalon with hope forlornC
Her back against the wallT
Have lived her brilliant life in vainC
While ruder tribes take allT
Must Arthur stand with Asian CeltsH
A ghost with spear and crownC
Behind the great Pendragon flagJ
And be again cut downC
-
Tho Europe's self shall move againstE
High Jimmu Tenno's throneC
The Forty seven Ronin MenC
Will not be found aloneC
For Percival and BedivereS
And Nogi side by sideE
Will stand with mourning Merlin thereS
Tho all go down in prideE
-
But has the world the envious dreamU
Ah such things cannot beH
To tear their fairy land like silkV
And toss it in the seaH
Must venom rob the future dayE
The ultimate world manC
Of rare Bushido code of codesH
The fair heart of JapanC
-
Go be the guest of AvalonC
Believe me it lies thereS
Behind the mighty gray sea wallT
Where heathen bend in prayerS
Where peasants lift adoring eyesH
To Fuji's crown of snowC
King Arthur's knights will be your hostsH
So cleanse your heart and goC
-
And you will find but gardens sweetE
Prepared beyond the seasH
And you will find but gentlefolkC
Beneath the cherry treesH
So walk you worthy of your ChristE
Tho church bells do not soundE
And weave the bands of brotherhoodE
On Jimmu Tenno's groundE

Vachel Lindsay



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