The Old Man's Counsel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJK ILMKNOP QKRKSTKUKKUKKUVFUUW UKXYUZKU KKA2KUUKB2C2 D2E2FKF2KWUG2H2I2J2K K2KL2M2KN2O2L2 F2E2UKUP2Q2 C2R2S2T2U2Among our hills and valleys I have known | A |
Wise and grave men who while their diligent hands | B |
Tended or gathered in the fruits of earth | C |
Were reverent learners in the solemn school | D |
Of nature Not in vain to them were sent | E |
Seed time and harvest or the vernal shower | F |
That darkened the brown tilth or snow that beat | G |
On the white winter hills Each brought in turn | H |
Some truth some lesson on the life of man | I |
Or recognition of the Eternal mind | J |
Who veils his glory with the elements | K |
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One such I knew long since a white haired man | I |
Pithy of speech and merry when he would | L |
A genial optimist who daily drew | M |
From what he saw his quaint moralities | K |
Kindly he held communion though so old | N |
With me a dreaming boy and taught me much | O |
That books tell not and I shall ne'er forget | P |
- | |
The sun of May was bright in middle heaven | Q |
And steeped the sprouting forests the green hills | K |
And emerald wheat fields in his yellow light | R |
Upon the apple tree where rosy buds | K |
Stood clustered ready to burst forth in bloom | S |
The robin warbled forth his full clear note | T |
For hours and wearied not Within the woods | K |
Whose young and half transparent leaves scarce cast | U |
A shade gay circles of anemones | K |
Danced on their stalks the shadbush white with flowers | K |
Brightened the glens the new leaved butternut | U |
And quivering poplar to the roving breeze | K |
Gave a balsamic fragrance In the fields | K |
I saw the pulses of the gentle wind | U |
On the young grass My heart was touched with joy | V |
At so much beauty flushing every hour | F |
Into a fuller beauty but my friend | U |
The thoughtful ancient standing at my side | U |
Gazed on it mildly sad I asked him why | W |
- | |
'Well mayst thou join in gladness ' he replied | U |
'With the glad earth her springing plants and flowers | K |
And this soft wind the herald of the green | X |
Luxuriant summer Thou art young like them | Y |
And well mayst thou rejoice But while the flight | U |
Of seasons fills and knits thy spreading frame | Z |
It withers mine and thins my hair and dims | K |
These eyes whose fading light shall soon be quenched | U |
In utter darkness Hearest thou that bird ' | - |
- | |
I listened and from midst the depth of woods | K |
Heard the love signal of the grouse that wears | K |
A sable ruff around his mottled neck | A2 |
Partridge they call him by our northern streams | K |
And pheasant by the Delaware He beat | U |
'Gainst his barred sides his speckled wings and made | U |
A sound like distant thunder slow the strokes | K |
At first then fast and faster till at length | B2 |
They passed into a murmur and were still | C2 |
- | |
'There hast thou ' said my friend 'a fitting type | D2 |
Of human life 'Tis an old truth I know | E2 |
But images like these revive the power | F |
Of long familiar truths Slow pass our days | K |
In childhood and the hours of light are long | F2 |
Betwixt the morn and eve with swifter lapse | K |
They glide in manhood and in age they fly | W |
Till days and seasons flit before the mind | U |
As flit the snow flakes in a winter storm | G2 |
Seen rather than distinguished Ah I seem | H2 |
As if I sat within a helpless bark | I2 |
By swiftly running waters hurried on | J2 |
To shoot some mighty cliff Along the banks | K |
Grove after grove rock after frowning rock | K2 |
Bare sands and pleasant homes and flowery nooks | K |
And isles and whirlpools in the stream appear | L2 |
Each after each but the devoted skiff | M2 |
Darts by so swiftly that their images | K |
Dwell not upon the mind or only dwell | N2 |
In dim confusion faster yet I sweep | O2 |
By other banks and the great gulf is near | L2 |
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'Wisely my son while yet thy days are long | F2 |
And this fair change of seasons passes slow | E2 |
Gather and treasure up the good they yield | U |
All that they teach of virtue of pure thoughts | K |
And kind affections reverence for thy God | U |
And for thy brethren so when thou shalt come | P2 |
Into these barren years thou mayst not bring | Q2 |
A mind unfurnished and a withered heart ' | - |
- | |
Long since that white haired ancient slept but still | C2 |
When the red flower buds crowd the orchard bough | R2 |
And the ruffed grouse is drumming far within | S2 |
The woods his venerable form again | T2 |
Is at my side his voice is in my ear | U2 |
William Cullen Bryant
(1)
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