The Antiquity Of Freedom Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJKL MNOPQRSTNULVWXBYZA2B 2C2 D2E2F2G2H2I2J2K2L2M2 N2O2P2Q2P2 P2R2P2OS2T2P2P2U2V2P 2HQ2P2P2W2X2Y2Z2P2A3 B3C3Here are old trees tall oaks and gnarled pines | A |
That stream with gray green mosses here the ground | B |
Was never trenched by spade and flowers spring up | C |
Unsown and die ungathered It is sweet | D |
To linger here among the flitting birds | E |
And leaping squirrels wandering brooks and winds | F |
That shake the leaves and scatter as they pass | G |
A fragrance from the cedars thickly set | H |
With pale blue berries In these peaceful shades | I |
Peaceful unpruned immeasurably old | J |
My thoughts go up the long dim path of years | K |
Back to the earliest days of liberty | L |
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Oh FREEDOM thou art not as poets dream | M |
A fair young girl with light and delicate limbs | N |
And wavy tresses gushing from the cap | O |
With which the Roman master crowned his slave | P |
When he took off the gyves A bearded man | Q |
Armed to the teeth art thou one mailed hand | R |
Grasps the broad shield and one the sword thy brow | S |
Glorious in beauty though it be is scarred | T |
With tokens of old wars thy massive limbs | N |
Are strong with struggling Power at thee has launched | U |
His bolts and with his lightnings smitten thee | L |
They could not quench the life thou hast from heaven | V |
Merciless power has dug thy dungeon deep | W |
And his swart armorers by a thousand fires | X |
Have forged thy chain yet while he deems thee bound | B |
The links are shivered and the prison walls | Y |
Fall outward terribly thou springest forth | Z |
As springs the flame above a burning pile | A2 |
And shoutest to the nations who return | B2 |
Thy shoutings while the pale oppressor flies | C2 |
- | |
Thy birthright was not given by human hands | D2 |
Thou wert twin born with man In pleasant fields | E2 |
While yet our race was few thou sat'st with him | F2 |
To tend the quiet flock and watch the stars | G2 |
And teach the reed to utter simple airs | H2 |
Thou by his side amid the tangled wood | I2 |
Didst war upon the panther and the wolf | J2 |
His only foes and thou with him didst draw | K2 |
The earliest furrows on the mountain side | L2 |
Soft with the deluge Tyranny himself | M2 |
Thy enemy although of reverend look | N2 |
Hoary with many years and far obeyed | O2 |
Is later born than thou and as he meets | P2 |
The grave defiance of thine elder eye | Q2 |
The usurper trembles in his fastnesses | P2 |
- | |
Thou shalt wax stronger with the lapse of years | P2 |
But he shall fade into a feebler age | R2 |
Feebler yet subtler He shall weave his snares | P2 |
And spring them on thy careless steps and clap | O |
His withered hands and from their ambush call | S2 |
His hordes to fall upon thee He shall send | T2 |
Quaint maskers wearing fair and gallant forms | P2 |
To catch thy gaze and uttering graceful words | P2 |
To charm thy ear while his sly imps by stealth | U2 |
Twine round thee threads of steel light thread on thread | V2 |
That grow to fetters or bind down thy arms | P2 |
With chains concealed in chaplets Oh not yet | H |
Mayst thou unbrace thy corslet nor lay by | Q2 |
Thy sword nor yet O Freedom close thy lids | P2 |
In slumber for thine enemy never sleeps | P2 |
And thou must watch and combat till the day | W2 |
Of the new earth and heaven But wouldst thou rest | X2 |
Awhile from tumult and the frauds of men | Y2 |
These old and friendly solitudes invite | Z2 |
Thy visit They while yet the forest trees | P2 |
Were young upon the unviolated earth | A3 |
And yet the moss stains on the rock were new | B3 |
Beheld thy glorious childhood and rejoiced | C3 |
William Cullen Bryant
(1)
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