Gloucester Moors Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCCD EFEFGHGGH IJIJKLLLL MNMOPQPPQ PRPRLPLLP STSTUMUUM VWXWMMMMM PFPFYBYYB MAMAZA2ZZA2 MMMMB2MPPB2B2P

A mile behind is Gloucester townA
Where the fishing fleets put inB
A mile ahead the land dips downA
And the woods and farms beginB
Here where the moors stretch freeC
In the high blue afternoonD
Are the marching sun and talking seaC
And the racing winds that wheel and fleeC
On the flying heels of JuneD
-
Jill o'er the ground is purple blueE
Blue is the quaker maidF
The wild geranium holds its dewE
Long in the boulder's shadeF
Wax red hangs the cupG
From the huckleberry boughsH
In barberry bells the grey moths supG
Or where the choke cherry lifts high upG
Sweet bowls for their carouseH
-
Over the shelf of the sandy coveI
Beach peas blossom lateJ
By copse and cliff the swallows roveI
Each calling to his mateJ
Seaward the sea gulls goK
And the land birds all are hereL
That green gold flash was a vireoL
And yonder flame where the marsh flags growL
Was a scarlet tanagerL
-
This earth is not the steadfast placeM
We landsmen build uponN
From deep to deep she varies paceM
And while she comes is goneO
Beneath my feet I feelP
Her smooth bulk heave and dipQ
With velvet plunge and soft upreelP
She swings and steadies to her keelP
Like a gallant gallant shipQ
-
These summer clouds she sets for sailP
The sun is her masthead lightR
She tows the moon like a pinnace frailP
Where her phosphor wake churns brightR
Now hid now looming clearL
On the face of the dangerous blueP
The star fleets tack and wheel and veerL
But on but on does the old earth steerL
As if her port she knewP
-
God dear God Does she know her portS
Though she goes so far aboutT
Or blind astray does she make her sportS
To brazen and chance it outT
I watched when her captains passedU
She were better captainlessM
Men in the cabin before the mastU
But some were reckless and some aghastU
And some sat gorged at messM
-
By her battened hatch I leaned and caughtV
Sounds from the noisome holdW
Cursing and sighing of souls distraughtX
And cries too sad to be toldW
Then I strove to go down and seeM
But they said Thou art not of usM
I turned to those on the deck with meM
And cried Give help But they said Let beM
Our ship sails faster thusM
-
Jill o'er the ground is purple blueP
Blue is the quaker maidF
The alder clump where the brook comes throughP
Breeds cresses in its shadeF
To be out of the moiling streetY
With its swelter and its sinB
Who has given to me this sweetY
And given my brother dust to eatY
And when will his wage come inB
-
Scattering wide or blown in ranksM
Yellow and white and brownA
Boats and boats from the fishing banksM
Come home to Gloucester townA
There is cash to purse and spendZ
There are wives to be embracedA2
Hearts to borrow and hearts to lendZ
And hearts to take and keep to the endZ
O little sails make hasteA2
-
But thou vast outbound ship of soulsM
What harbor town for theeM
What shapes when thy arriving tollsM
Shall crowd the banks to seeM
Shall all the happy shipmates thenB2
Stand singing brotherlyM
Or shall a haggard ruthless fewP
Warp her over and bring her toP
While the many broken souls of menB2
Fester down in the slaver's penB2
And nothing to say or doP

William Vaughn Moody



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