The Greenwich Pensioners Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CDEE FGEE HHIIJJ KKLMNNOO KKPQRAA SSEE TTNN IIUUKKVVWW| When evening listened to the dipping oar | A |
| Forgetting the loud city's ceaseless roar | A |
| By the green banks where Thames with conscious pride | B |
| Reflects that stately structure on his side | B |
| - | |
| Within whose walls as their long labours close | C |
| The wanderers of the ocean find repose | D |
| We wore in social ease the hours away | E |
| The passing visit of a summer's day | E |
| - | |
| Whilst some to range the breezy hill are gone | F |
| I lingered on the river's marge alone | G |
| Mingled with groups of ancient sailors gray | E |
| And watched the last bright sunshine steal away | E |
| - | |
| As thus I mused amidst the various train | H |
| Of toil worn wanderers of the perilous main | H |
| Two sailors well I marked them as the beam | I |
| Of parting day yet lingered on the stream | I |
| And the sun sank behind the shady reach | J |
| Hastened with tottering footsteps to the beach | J |
| - | |
| The one had lost a limb in Nile's dread fight | K |
| Total eclipse had veiled the other's sight | K |
| For ever As I drew more anxious near | L |
| I stood intent if they should speak to hear | M |
| But neither said a word He who was blind | N |
| Stood as to feel the comfortable wind | N |
| That gently lifted his gray hair his face | O |
| Seemed then of a faint smile to wear the trace | O |
| - | |
| The other fixed his gaze upon the light | K |
| Parting and when the sun had vanished quite | K |
| Methought a starting tear that Heaven might bless | P |
| Unfelt or felt with transient tenderness | Q |
| Came to his aged eyes and touched his cheek | R |
| And then as meek and silent as before | A |
| Back hand in hand they went and left the shore | A |
| - | |
| As they departed through the unheeding crowd | S |
| A caged bird sang from the casement loud | S |
| And then I heard alone that blind man say | E |
| The music of the bird is sweet to day | E |
| - | |
| I said O heavenly Father none may know | T |
| The cause these have for silence or for woe | T |
| Here they appeared heartstricken and resigned | N |
| Amidst the unheeding tumult of mankind | N |
| - | |
| There is a world a pure unclouded clime | I |
| Where there is neither grief nor death nor time | I |
| Nor loss of friends Perhaps when yonder bell | U |
| Pealed slow and bade the dying day farewell | U |
| Ere yet the glimmering landscape sank to night | K |
| They thought upon that world of distant light | K |
| And when the blind man lifting light his hair | V |
| Felt the faint wind he raised a warmer prayer | V |
| Then sighed as the blithe bird sang o'er his head | W |
| No morn shall shine on me till I am dead | W |
William Lisle Bowles
(1)
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