Each stanza has the rhyme scheme ofABAABCDDE. The ending word ofeach line of the first stanza, in order,are "town," "sea," "down," "town,""me," "song," "still," "will,""thoughts."

The line " 'A boy's will is the wind's will, /And the thoughts of youth are long, longthoughts.' " repeats at the end of eachstanza.

"A boy's will is the wind's will"(Longfellow 35)

"A boy's will is thewind's will" (Longfellow8)

"Are longings wild andvain." (Longfellow 59)

"And islands that were theHesperides" (Longfellow 13)

"OFTEN I think of the beautifultown / That is seated by the sea;"(Longfellow 12)

"Strange to me now are theforms I meet" (Longfellow 73)

"It flutters and murmursstill" (Longfellow 52)

"And my youth comes backto me." (Longfellow 5)