To ....... Upon The Birth Of Her First-born Child, March 1833 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AA BBAACDEEFAGH AAIIJKLLAABBAA BBLLMMLLBBNNOOPPAA BBBBQMRRBBAABBB AANNSSLLBBBBBBTTLLBB BBBTum porro puer ut saevis projectus ab undis | A |
Navita nudus humi jacet etc Lucretius | A |
- | |
- | |
- | |
Like a shipwrecked Sailor tost | B |
By rough waves on a perilous coast | B |
Lies the Babe in helplessness | A |
And in tenderest nakedness | A |
Flung by labouring nature forth | C |
Upon the mercies of the earth | D |
Can its eyes beseech no more | E |
Than the hands are free to implore | E |
Voice but serves for one brief cry | F |
Plaint was it or prophecy | A |
Of sorrow that will surely come | G |
Omen of man's grievous doom | H |
- | |
But O Mother by the close | A |
Duly granted to thy throes | A |
By the silent thanks now tending | I |
Incense like to Heaven descending | I |
Now to mingle and to move | J |
With the gush of earthly love | K |
As a debt to that frail Creature | L |
Instrument of struggling Nature | L |
For the blissful calm the peace | A |
Known but to this 'one' release | A |
Can the pitying spirit doubt | B |
That for human kind springs out | B |
From the penalty a sense | A |
Of more than mortal recompense | A |
- | |
As a floating summer cloud | B |
Though of gorgeous drapery proud | B |
To the sun burnt traveler | L |
Or the stooping labourer | L |
Oft times makes its bounty known | M |
By its shadow round him thrown | M |
So by chequerings of sad cheer | L |
Heavenly Guardians brooding near | L |
Of their presence tell too bright | B |
Haply for corporeal sight | B |
Ministers of grace divine | N |
Feelingly their brows incline | N |
O'er this seeming Castaway | O |
Breathing in the light of day | O |
Something like the faintest breath | P |
That has power to baffle death | P |
Beautiful while very weakness | A |
Captivates like passive meekness | A |
- | |
And sweet Mother under warrant | B |
Of the universal Parent | B |
Who repays in season due | B |
Them who have like thee been true | B |
To the filial chain let down | Q |
From his everlasting throne | M |
Angels hovering round thy couch | R |
With their softest whispers vouch | R |
That whatever griefs may fret | B |
Cares entangle sins beset | B |
This thy First born and with tears | A |
Stain her cheek in future years | A |
Heavenly succour not denied | B |
To the babe whate'er betide | B |
Will to the woman be supplied | B |
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Mother blest be thy calm ease | A |
Blest the starry promises | A |
And the firmament benign | N |
Hallowed be it where they shine | N |
Yes for them whose souls have scope | S |
Ample for a winged hope | S |
And can earthward bend an ear | L |
For needful listening pledge is here | L |
That if thy new born Charge shall tread | B |
In thy footsteps and be led | B |
By that other Guide whose light | B |
Of manly virtues mildly bright | B |
Gave him first the wished for part | B |
In thy gentle virgin heart | B |
Then amid the storms of life | T |
Presignified by that dread strife | T |
Whence ye have escaped together | L |
She may look for serene weather | L |
In all trials sure to find | B |
Comfort for a faithful mind | B |
Kindlier issues holier rest | B |
Than even now await her prest | B |
Conscious Nursling to thy breast | B |
William Wordsworth
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