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

Rhyme Scheme: ABC DEFG HEEIJE KLF MEENE OFF OFE EPF FQ EI P RIO

Suddenly out of its stale and drowsy lair the lair of slavesA
Like lightning it le'pt forth half startled at itselfB
Its feet upon the ashes and the rags its hand tight to the throats of kingsC
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O hope and faithD
O aching close of exiled patriots' livesE
O many a sicken'd heartF
Turn back unto this day and make yourselves afreshG
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And you paid to defile the People you liars markH
Not for numberless agonies murders lustsE
For court thieving in its manifold mean forms worming from his simplicity the poor man's wagesE
For many a promise sworn by royal lips and broken and laugh'd at in the breakingI
Then in their power not for all these did the blows strike revenge or the heads of the nobles fallJ
The People scorn'd the ferocity of kingsE
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But the sweetness of mercy brew'd bitter destruction and the frighten'd monarchs come backK
Each comes in state with his train hangman priest taxgathererL
Soldier lawyer lord jailer and sycophantF
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Yet behind all lowering stealing lo a shapeM
Vague as the night draped interminably head front and form in scarlet foldsE
Whose face and eyes none may seeE
Out of its robes only this the red robes lifted by the armN
One finger crook'd pointed high over the top like the head of a snake appearsE
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Meanwhile corpses lie in new made graves bloody corpses of young menO
The rope of the gibbet hangs heavily the bullets of princes are flying the creatures of power laugh aloudF
And all these things bear fruits and they are goodF
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Those corpses of young menO
Those martyrs that hang from the gibbets those hearts pierc'd by the gray leadF
Cold and motionless as they seem live elsewhere with unslaughter'd vitalityE
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They live in other young men O kingsE
They live in brothers again ready to defy youP
They were purified by death they were taught and exaltedF
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Not a grave of the murder'd for freedom but grows seed for freedom in its turn to bear seedF
Which the winds carry afar and re sow and the rains and the snows nourishQ
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Not a disembodied spirit can the weapons of tyrants let looseE
But it stalks invisibly over the earth whispering counseling cautioningI
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Liberty let others despair of you I never despair of youP
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Is the house shut is the master awayR
Nevertheless be ready be not weary of watchingI
He will soon return his messengers come anonO

Walt Whitman



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About Europe, The 72nd And 73rd Years Of These States

Europe, The 72nd And 73rd Years Of These States is a poem by Walt Whitman. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.



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