The Conqueror-s Grave Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCADDEEFFE GHHGIJJIJKJK LMNJNJOOJJJJ PQPQRSSRSII JAJATTQQJJOO UMUMUVVWXWXWITHIN this lowly grave a Conqueror lies | A |
And yet the monument proclaims it not | B |
Nor round the sleeper s name hath chisel wrought | C |
The emblems of a fame that never dies | A |
Ivy and amaranth in a graceful sheaf | D |
Twined with the laurel s fair imperial leaf | D |
A simple name alone | E |
To the great world unknown | E |
Is graven here and wild flowers rising round | F |
Meek meadow sweet and violets of the ground | F |
Lean lovingly against the humble stone | E |
- | |
Here in the quiet earth they laid apart | G |
No man of iron mould and bloody hands | H |
Who sought to wreak upon the cowering lands | H |
The passions that consumed his restless heart | G |
But one of tender spirit and delicate frame | I |
Gentlest in mien and mind | J |
Of gentle womankind | J |
Timidly shrinking from the breath of blame | I |
One in whose eyes the smile of kindness made | J |
Its haunts like flowers by sunny brooks in May | K |
Yet at the thought of others pain a shade | J |
Of sweeter sadness chased the smile away | K |
- | |
Nor deem that when the hand that moulders here | L |
Was raised in menace realms were chilled with fear | M |
And armies mustered at the sign as when | N |
Clouds rise on clouds before the rainy East | J |
Gray captains leading bands of veteran men | N |
And fiery youths to be the vulture s feast | J |
Not thus were waged the mighty wars that gave | O |
The victory to her who fills this grave | O |
Alone her task was wrought | J |
Alone the battle fought | J |
Through that long strife her constant hope was stayed | J |
On God alone nor looked for other aid | J |
- | |
She met the hosts of Sorrow with a look | P |
That altered not beneath the frown they wore | Q |
And soon the lowering brood were tamed and took | P |
Meekly her gentle rule and frowned no more | Q |
Her soft hand put aside the assaults of wrath | R |
And calmly broke in twain | S |
The fiery shafts of pain | S |
And rent the nets of passion from her path | R |
By that victorious hand despair was slain | S |
With love she vanquished hate and overcame | I |
Evil with good in her Great Master s name | I |
- | |
Her glory is not of this shadowy state | J |
Glory that with the fleeting season dies | A |
But when she entered at the sapphire gate | J |
What joy was radiant in celestial eyes | A |
How heaven s bright depths with sounding welcomes rung | T |
And flowers of heaven by shining hands were flung | T |
And He who long before | Q |
Pain scorn and sorrow bore | Q |
The Mighty Sufferer with aspect sweet | J |
Smiled on the timid stranger from his seat | J |
He who returning glorious from the grave | O |
Dragged Death disarmed in chains a crouching slave | O |
- | |
See as I linger here the sun grows low | U |
Cool airs are murmuring that the night is near | M |
Oh gentle sleeper from thy grave I go | U |
Consoled though sad in hope and yet in fear | M |
Brief is the time I know | U |
The warfare scarce begun | V |
Yet all may win the triumphs thou hast won | V |
Still flows the fount whose waters strengthened thee | W |
The victors names are yet too few to fill | X |
Heaven s mighty roll the glorious armory | W |
That ministered to thee is open still | X |
William Cullen Bryant
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