The Dresser Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDACEFGHIJ CKLMINOPQRSTU VWNXNYZ A2B2C2D2E2F2G2H2I2J2 K2L2E2M2N2M2 O2P2PQ2C2R2S2T2C XMU2V2W2NX2Y2 Z2MKC D2B2A3MH2 B3BNC3 VD3XE3F3MU2G3

AN old man bending I come among new facesA
Years looking backward resuming in answer to childrenB
Come tell us old man as from young men and maidens that love meC
Years hence of these scenes of these furious passions theseD
chancesA
Of unsurpass'd heroes was one side so brave the other was equallyC
braveE
Now be witness again paint the mightiest armies of earthF
Of those armies so rapid so wondrous what saw you to tell usG
What stays with you latest and deepest of curious panicsH
Of hard fought engagements or sieges tremendous what deepestI
remainsJ
-
-
O maidens and young men I love and that love meC
What you ask of my days those the strangest and sudden your talkingK
recallsL
Soldier alert I arrive after a long march cover'd with sweat andM
dustI
In the nick of time I come plunge in the fight loudly shout in theN
rush of successful chargeO
Enter the captur'd works yet lo like a swift running river theyP
fadeQ
Pass and are gone they fade I dwell not on soldiers' perils orR
soldiers' joysS
Both I remember well many the hardships few the joys yet I wasT
contentU
-
But in silence in dreams' projectionsV
While the world of gain and appearance and mirth goes onW
So soon what is over forgotten and waves wash the imprints off theN
sandX
In nature's reverie sad with hinged knees returning I enter theN
doors while for you up thereY
Whoever you are follow me without noise and be of strong heartZ
-
-
Bearing the bandages water and spongeA2
Straight and swift to my wounded I goB2
Where they lie on the ground after the battle brought inC2
Where their priceless blood reddens the grass the groundD2
Or to the rows of the hospital tent or under the roof'd hospitalE2
To the long rows of cots up and down each side I returnF2
To each and all one after another I draw near not one do I missG2
An attendant follows holding a tray he carries a refuse pailH2
Soon to be fill'd with clotted rags and blood emptied and fill'dI2
againJ2
-
I onward go I stopK2
With hinged knees and steady hand to dress woundsL2
I am firm with each the pangs are sharp yet unavoidableE2
One turns to me his appealing eyes poor boy I never knew youM2
Yet I think I could not refuse this moment to die for you if thatN2
would save youM2
-
-
On on I go open doors of time open hospital doorsO2
The crush'd head I dress poor crazed hand tear not the bandageP2
awayP
The neck of the cavalry man with the bullet through and through IQ2
examineC2
Hard the breathing rattles quite glazed already the eye yet lifeR2
struggles hardS2
Come sweet death be persuaded O beautiful deathT2
In mercy come quicklyC
-
From the stump of the arm the amputated handX
I undo the clotted lint remove the slough wash off the matter andM
bloodU2
Back on his pillow the soldier bends with curv'd neck and sideV2
falling headW2
His eyes are closed his face is pale he dares not look on theN
bloody stumpX2
And has not yet look'd on itY2
-
I dress a wound in the side deep deepZ2
But a day or two more for see the frame all wasted already andM
sinkingK
And the yellow blue countenance seeC
-
I dress the perforated shoulder the foot with the bullet woundD2
Cleanse the one with a gnawing and putrid gangrene so sickening soB2
offensiveA3
While the attendant stands behind aside me holding the tray andM
pailH2
-
I am faithful I do not give outB3
The fractur'd thigh the knee the wound in the abdomenB
These and more I dress with impassive hand yet deep in my breast aN
fire a burning flameC3
-
-
Thus in silence in dreams' projectionsV
Returning resuming I thread my way through the hospitalsD3
The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing handX
I sit by the restless all the dark night some are so youngE3
Some suffer so much I recall the experience sweet and sadF3
Many a soldier's loving arms about this neck have cross'd andM
restedU2
Many a soldier's kiss dwells on these bearded lipsG3

Walt Whitman



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