Iceland First Seen Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDD EFEFEGG HIHIHJJ KLKLKMM NONONPP QPQPQRR| Lo from our loitering ship a new land at last to be seen | A |
| Toothed rocks down the side of the firth on the east guard a weary wide lea | B |
| And black slope the hillsides above striped adown with their desolate green | A |
| And a peak rises up on the west from the meeting of cloud and of sea | B |
| Foursquare from base unto point like the building of Gods that have been | C |
| The last of that waste of the mountains all cloud wreathed and snow flecked and grey | D |
| And bright with the dawn that began just now at the ending of day | D |
| - | |
| Ah what came we forth for to see that our hearts are so hot with desire | E |
| Is it enough for our rest the sight of this desolate strand | F |
| And the mountain waste voiceless as death but for winds that may sleep not nor tire | E |
| Why do we long to wend forth through the length and breadth of a land | F |
| Dreadful with grinding of ice and record of scarce hidden fire | E |
| But that there 'mid the grey grassy dales sore scarred by the ruining streams | G |
| Lives the tale of the Northland of old and the undying glory of dreams | G |
| - | |
| O land as some cave by the sea where the treasures of old have been laid | H |
| The sword it may be of a king whose name was the turning of fight | I |
| Or the staff of some wise of the world that many things made and unmade | H |
| Or the ring of a woman maybe whose woe is grown wealth and delight | I |
| No wheat and no wine grows above it no orchard for blossom and shade | H |
| The few ships that sail by its blackness but deem it the mouth of a grave | J |
| Yet sure when the world shall awaken this too shall be mighty to save | J |
| - | |
| Or rather O land if a marvel it seemeth that men ever sought | K |
| Thy wastes for a field and a garden fulfilled of all wonder and doubt | L |
| And feasted amidst of the winter when the fight of the year had been fought | K |
| Whose plunder all gathered together was little to babble about | L |
| Cry aloud from thy wastes O thou land Not for this nor for that was I wrought | K |
| Amid waning of realms and of riches and death of things worshipped and sure | M |
| I abide here the spouse of a God and I made and I make and endure | M |
| - | |
| O Queen of the grief without knowledge of the courage that may not avail | N |
| Of the longing that may not attain of the love that shall never forget | O |
| More joy than the gladness of laughter thy voice hath amidst of its wail | N |
| More hope than of pleasure fulfilled amidst of thy blindness is set | O |
| More glorious than gaining of all thine unfaltering hand that shall fail | N |
| For what is the mark on thy brow but the brand that thy Brynhild doth bear | P |
| Love once and loved and undone by a love that no ages outwear | P |
| - | |
| Ah when thy Balder comes back and bears from the heart of the Sun | Q |
| Peace and the healing of pain and the wisdom that waiteth no more | P |
| And the lilies are laid on thy brow 'mid the crown of the deeds thou hast done | Q |
| And the roses spring up by thy feet that the rocks of the wilderness wore | P |
| Ah when thy Balder comes back and we gather the gains he hath won | Q |
| Shall we not linger a little to talk of thy sweetness of old | R |
| Yea turn back awhile to thy travail whence the Gods stood aloof to behold | R |
William Morris
(1)
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