The Battle-field Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGI JKJK LMLM NONO PQPQ IRHR SMST UDUD| Once this soft turf this rivulet's sands | A |
| Were trampled by a hurrying crowd | B |
| And fiery hearts and armed hands | A |
| Encountered in the battle cloud | B |
| - | |
| Ah I never shall the land forget | C |
| How gushed the life blood of her brave | D |
| Gushed warm with hope and courage yet | C |
| Upon the soil they fought to save | D |
| - | |
| Now all is calm and fresh and still | E |
| Alone the chirp of flitting bird | F |
| And talk of children on the hill | E |
| And bell of wandering kine are heard | F |
| - | |
| No solemn host goes trailing by | G |
| The black mouthed gun and staggering wain | H |
| Men start not at the battle cry | G |
| Oh be it never heard again | I |
| - | |
| Soon rested those who fought but thou | J |
| Who minglest in the harder strife | K |
| For truths which men receive not now | J |
| Thy warfare only ends with life | K |
| - | |
| A friendless warfare lingering long | L |
| Through weary day and weary year | M |
| A wild and many weaponed throng | L |
| Hang on thy front and flank and rear | M |
| - | |
| Yet nerve thy spirit to the proof | N |
| And blench not at thy chosen lot | O |
| The timid good may stand aloof | N |
| The sage may frown yet faint thou not | O |
| - | |
| Nor heed the shaft too surely cast | P |
| The foul and hissing bolt of scorn | Q |
| For with thy side shall dwell at last | P |
| The victory of endurance born | Q |
| - | |
| Truth crushed to earth shall rise again | I |
| The eternal years of God are hers | R |
| But Error wounded writhes with pain | H |
| And dies among his worshippers | R |
| - | |
| Yea though thou lie upon the dust | S |
| When they who helped thee flee in fear | M |
| Die full of hope and manly trust | S |
| Like those who fell in battle here | T |
| - | |
| Another hand thy sword shall wield | U |
| Another hand the standard wave | D |
| Till from the trumpet's mouth is pealed | U |
| The blast of triumph o'er thy grave | D |
William Cullen Bryant
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Battle-field poem by William Cullen Bryant
Best Poems of William Cullen Bryant