Europe, The 72d And 73d Years Of These States Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCD EFGH IFFJKF LMG NFFOF PGG PGF FQG GR FJ Q SJP

A
-
Suddenly out of its stale and drowsy lair the lair of slavesB
Like lightning it le'pt forth half startled at itselfC
Its feet upon the ashes and the rags its hands tight to the throats of kingsD
-
O hope and faithE
O aching close of exiled patriots' livesF
O many a sicken'd heartG
Turn back unto this day and make yourselves afreshH
-
And you paid to defile the People you liars markI
Not for numberless agonies murders lustsF
For court thieving in its manifold mean forms worming from his simplicity the poor man's wagesF
For many a promise sworn by royal lips and broken and laugh'd at in the breakingJ
Then in their power not for all these did the blows strike revenge or the heads of the nobles fallK
The People scorn'd the ferocity of kingsF
-
-
-
But the sweetness of mercy brew'd bitter destruction and the frighten'd monarchs come backL
Each comes in state with his train hangman priest tax gathererM
Soldier lawyer lord jailer and sycophantG
-
Yet behind all lowering stealing lo a ShapeN
Vague as the night draped interminably head front and form in scarlet foldsF
Whose face and eyes none may seeF
Out of its robes only this the red robes lifted by the armO
One finger crook'd pointed high over the top like the head of a snake appearsF
-
-
-
Meanwhile corpses lie in new made graves bloody corpses of young menP
The rope of the gibbet hangs heavily the bullets of princes are flying the creatures of power laugh aloudG
And all these things bear fruits and they are goodG
-
Those corpses of young menP
Those martyrs that hang from the gibbets those hearts pierc'd by the gray leadG
Cold and motionless as they seem live elsewhere with unslaughter'd vitalityF
-
They live in other young men O kingsF
They live in brothers again ready to defy youQ
They were purified by death they were taught and exaltedG
-
Not a grave of the murder'd for freedom but grows seed for freedom in its turn to bear seedG
Which the winds carry afar and re sow and the rains and the snows nourishR
-
Not a disembodied spirit can the weapons of tyrants let looseF
But it stalks invisibly over the earth whispering counseling cautioningJ
-
-
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Liberty let others despair of you I never despair of youQ
-
Is the house shut Is the master awayS
Nevertheless be ready be not weary of watchingJ
He will soon return his messengers come anonP

Walt Whitman



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