May Day [1892] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBC DEDE FGFG GHGH I DCDC A DJDJ I CICI A DKDK I DLDL MNMN| THE WORKERS | A |
| - | |
| O Earth once again cometh Spring to deliver | B |
| Thy winter worn heart O thou friend of the Sun | C |
| Fair blossom the meadows from river to river | B |
| And the birds sing their triumph o'er winter undone | C |
| - | |
| O Earth how a toiling thou singest thy labour | D |
| And upholdest the flower crowned cup of thy bliss | E |
| As when in the feast tide drinks neighbour to neighbour | D |
| And all words are gleeful and nought is amiss | E |
| - | |
| But we we O Mother through long generations | F |
| We have toiled and been fruitful but never with thee | G |
| Might we raise up our bowed heads and cry to the nations | F |
| To look on our beauty and hearken our glee | G |
| - | |
| Unlovely of aspect heart sick and a weary | G |
| On the season's fair pageant all dim eyed we gaze | H |
| Of thy fairness we fashion a prison house dreary | G |
| And in sorrow wear over each day of our days | H |
| - | |
| THE EARTH | I |
| - | |
| O children O toilers what foemen beleaguer | D |
| The House I have built you the Home I have won | C |
| Full great are my gifts and my hands are all eager | D |
| To fill every heart with the deeds I have done | C |
| - | |
| THE WORKERS | A |
| - | |
| The foemen are born of thy body O Mother | D |
| In our shape are they shapen their voice is the same | J |
| And the thought of their hearts is as ours and no other | D |
| It is they of our own house that bring us to shame | J |
| - | |
| THE EARTH | I |
| - | |
| Are ye few Are they many What words have ye spoken | C |
| To bid your own brethren remember the Earth | I |
| What deeds have ye done that the bonds should be broken | C |
| And men dwell together in good will and mirth | I |
| - | |
| THE WORKERS | A |
| - | |
| They are few we are many and yet O our Mother | D |
| Many years were we wordless and nought was our deed | K |
| But now the word flitteth from brother to brother | D |
| We have furrowed the acres and scattered the seed | K |
| - | |
| THE EARTH | I |
| - | |
| Win on then unyielding through fair and foul weather | D |
| And pass not a day that your deed shall avail | L |
| And in hope every spring tide come gather together | D |
| That unto the Earth ye may tell all your tale | L |
| - | |
| Then this shall I promise that I am abiding | M |
| The day of your triumph the ending of gloom | N |
| And no wealth that ye will then my hand shall be hiding | M |
| And the tears of the spring into roses shall bloom | N |
William Morris
(1)
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