The Old Man's Counsel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJK ILMKNOP QKRKSTKUKKUKKUVFUUW UKXYUZKU KKA2KUUKB2C2 D2E2FKF2KWUG2H2I2J2K K2KL2M2KN2O2L2 F2E2UKUP2Q2 C2R2S2T2U2

Among our hills and valleys I have knownA
Wise and grave men who while their diligent handsB
Tended or gathered in the fruits of earthC
Were reverent learners in the solemn schoolD
Of nature Not in vain to them were sentE
Seed time and harvest or the vernal showerF
That darkened the brown tilth or snow that beatG
On the white winter hills Each brought in turnH
Some truth some lesson on the life of manI
Or recognition of the Eternal mindJ
Who veils his glory with the elementsK
-
One such I knew long since a white haired manI
Pithy of speech and merry when he wouldL
A genial optimist who daily drewM
From what he saw his quaint moralitiesK
Kindly he held communion though so oldN
With me a dreaming boy and taught me muchO
That books tell not and I shall ne'er forgetP
-
The sun of May was bright in middle heavenQ
And steeped the sprouting forests the green hillsK
And emerald wheat fields in his yellow lightR
Upon the apple tree where rosy budsK
Stood clustered ready to burst forth in bloomS
The robin warbled forth his full clear noteT
For hours and wearied not Within the woodsK
Whose young and half transparent leaves scarce castU
A shade gay circles of anemonesK
Danced on their stalks the shadbush white with flowersK
Brightened the glens the new leaved butternutU
And quivering poplar to the roving breezeK
Gave a balsamic fragrance In the fieldsK
I saw the pulses of the gentle windU
On the young grass My heart was touched with joyV
At so much beauty flushing every hourF
Into a fuller beauty but my friendU
The thoughtful ancient standing at my sideU
Gazed on it mildly sad I asked him whyW
-
'Well mayst thou join in gladness ' he repliedU
'With the glad earth her springing plants and flowersK
And this soft wind the herald of the greenX
Luxuriant summer Thou art young like themY
And well mayst thou rejoice But while the flightU
Of seasons fills and knits thy spreading frameZ
It withers mine and thins my hair and dimsK
These eyes whose fading light shall soon be quenchedU
In utter darkness Hearest thou that bird '-
-
I listened and from midst the depth of woodsK
Heard the love signal of the grouse that wearsK
A sable ruff around his mottled neckA2
Partridge they call him by our northern streamsK
And pheasant by the Delaware He beatU
'Gainst his barred sides his speckled wings and madeU
A sound like distant thunder slow the strokesK
At first then fast and faster till at lengthB2
They passed into a murmur and were stillC2
-
'There hast thou ' said my friend 'a fitting typeD2
Of human life 'Tis an old truth I knowE2
But images like these revive the powerF
Of long familiar truths Slow pass our daysK
In childhood and the hours of light are longF2
Betwixt the morn and eve with swifter lapseK
They glide in manhood and in age they flyW
Till days and seasons flit before the mindU
As flit the snow flakes in a winter stormG2
Seen rather than distinguished Ah I seemH2
As if I sat within a helpless barkI2
By swiftly running waters hurried onJ2
To shoot some mighty cliff Along the banksK
Grove after grove rock after frowning rockK2
Bare sands and pleasant homes and flowery nooksK
And isles and whirlpools in the stream appearL2
Each after each but the devoted skiffM2
Darts by so swiftly that their imagesK
Dwell not upon the mind or only dwellN2
In dim confusion faster yet I sweepO2
By other banks and the great gulf is nearL2
-
'Wisely my son while yet thy days are longF2
And this fair change of seasons passes slowE2
Gather and treasure up the good they yieldU
All that they teach of virtue of pure thoughtsK
And kind affections reverence for thy GodU
And for thy brethren so when thou shalt comeP2
Into these barren years thou mayst not bringQ2
A mind unfurnished and a withered heart '-
-
Long since that white haired ancient slept but stillC2
When the red flower buds crowd the orchard boughR2
And the ruffed grouse is drumming far withinS2
The woods his venerable form againT2
Is at my side his voice is in my earU2

William Cullen Bryant



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