Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB ADED FGHG IJKJ KLML NOKO IPQP KGKG IRKR OSI TUK VHV KWIW KKIK IXYZ| For centuries past this war madness | A |
| Has laid hold of each combative race | B |
| While our God takes but heed of the flower | C |
| And that sun moon and stars keep their place | B |
| - | |
| The sight of the heavens above us | A |
| The bird's nest and lily like snow | D |
| Drive not from the brain of us mortals | E |
| The war thirst with its feverish flow | D |
| - | |
| We love but the field with its carnage | F |
| And the strife which turns earth into hell | G |
| And eager for glory the people | H |
| Would not change the fierce drum for church bell | G |
| - | |
| The vain aspirations of glory | I |
| With banners and cars of bright gold | J |
| Draw tears from the widows and orphans | K |
| As often has happened of old | J |
| - | |
| Our natures have changed to brute fierceness | K |
| 'Forward Die ' bursts from each angry throat | L |
| While our lips seem to mimic the music | M |
| Of the echoing war trumpet's note | L |
| - | |
| Steel flashes the bivouacs are smoking | N |
| As with pale brows we eagerly run | O |
| The thoughtful are driven to madness | K |
| By the flash and the roar of the gun | O |
| - | |
| Our lives are but spent for the glory | I |
| Of the kings who smile over our grave | P |
| And build up a fabric of friendship | Q |
| With cement from the blood of the brave | P |
| - | |
| While the beats of the field and the vultures | K |
| Come in search of their banquet of hell | G |
| And they strip the red flesh from the bodies | K |
| That lie stiff and stark where they fell | G |
| - | |
| Each man's hand is raised 'gainst his neighbour | I |
| While he strives all his wrath to excite | R |
| And trades on our natural weakness | K |
| To inveigle us into the fight | R |
| - | |
| 'A Russian Quick Cut down the villain | O |
| Put your sword through that murderous Croat | S |
| How dare they from our men to differ | I |
| Or venture to wear a white coat ' | - |
| - | |
| 'I slay fellow creatures and go on | T |
| My life's path What glory like mine | U |
| Their crime is most black and most heinous | K |
| They live on the right of the Rhine ' | - |
| - | |
| 'For Rosbach and Waterloo vengeance ' | - |
| The cry maddens the heart and the brain | V |
| Men long for the fierce glow of battle | H |
| And the blood that is poured forth like rain | V |
| - | |
| In peace we could drink from the fountains | K |
| Or calmly repose in the shade | W |
| But our brethren in battle to slaughter | I |
| Is a pleasure which never will fade | W |
| - | |
| The lust for blood spilling incites us | K |
| To rush madly o'er valleys and plains | K |
| The vanquished are crying in terror | I |
| And are clasping our swift horses' manes | K |
| - | |
| And yet I ask sometimes in wonder | I |
| As I wander the meadows among | X |
| Can brother for brother feel hatred | Y |
| As he hears the lark's musical song | Z |
Victor Marie Hugo
(1)
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Liberty, Equality, Fraternity is a poem by Victor Marie Hugo. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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