5. A Legend of the Northland by Phoebe Cary
A Legend of the Northland by Phoebe Cary is a ballad that tells the story of a greedy woman who is punished for her selfishness. The poem is set in a cold, northern land where a saint, often identified as St. Peter, visits a poor woman asking for food. However, the woman, despite having plenty, gives him only a tiny piece of cake. Angered by her greed, the saint turns her into a woodpecker, doomed to spend her life pecking at trees for food.
The poem's rhyme scheme is ABAB, and it is written in a simple, narrative style, making it easy for readers to follow the story. The moral of the poem emphasizes the importance of generosity and the consequences of greed. The tone is cautionary, and the use of folklore elements adds to the timelessness of the lesson.
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