The Last Redoubt Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFG HHII JJKK LLMM FFNN GG O AAPP QRSS TTUU VVW XXS YYZ NNMM| Kacelyevo's slope still felt | A |
| The cannon's bolt and the rifles' pelt | A |
| For a last redoubt up the hill remained | B |
| By the Russ yet held by the Turk not gained | B |
| - | |
| Mehemet Ali stroked his beard | C |
| His lips were clinched and his look was weird | C |
| Round him were ranks of his ragged folk | D |
| Their faces blackened with blood and smoke | D |
| - | |
| Clear me the Muscovite out '' he cried | E |
| Then the name of Allah '' resounded wide | E |
| And the rifles were clutched and the bayonets lowered | F |
| And on to the last redoubt they poured | G |
| - | |
| One fell and a second quickly stopped | H |
| The gap that he left when he reeled and dropped | H |
| The second a third straight filled his place | I |
| The third and a fourth kept up the race | I |
| - | |
| Many a fez in the mud was crushed | J |
| Many a throat that cheered was hushed | J |
| Many a heart that sought the crest | K |
| Found Allah's throne and a houri's breast | K |
| - | |
| Over their corpses the living sprang | L |
| And the ridge with their musket rattle rang | L |
| Till the faces that lined the last redoubt | M |
| Could see their faces and hear their shout | M |
| - | |
| In the redoubt a fair form towered | F |
| That cheered up the brave and chid the coward | F |
| Brandishing blade with a gallant air | N |
| His head erect and his temples bare | N |
| - | |
| Fly they are on us '' his men implored | G |
| But he waved them on with his waving sword | G |
| It cannot be held 'tis no shame to go '' | - |
| But he stood with his face set hard to the foe | O |
| - | |
| Then clung they about him and tugged and knelt | A |
| He drew a pistol out from his belt | A |
| And fired it blank at the first that set | P |
| Foot on the edge of the parapet | P |
| - | |
| Over that first one toppled but on | Q |
| Clambered the rest till their bayonets shone | R |
| As hurriedly fled his men dismayed | S |
| Not a bayonet's length from the length of his blade | S |
| - | |
| Yield '' But aloft his steel he flashed | T |
| And down on their steel it ringing clashed | T |
| Then back he reeled with a bladeless hilt | U |
| His honour full but his life blood spilt | U |
| - | |
| Mehemet Ali came and saw | V |
| The riddled breast and the tender jaw | V |
| Make him a bier of your arms '' he said | W |
| And daintily bury this dainty dead '' | - |
| - | |
| They lifted him up from the dabbled ground | X |
| His limbs were shapely and soft and round | X |
| No down on his lip on his cheek no shade | S |
| Bismillah '' they cried 'tis an Infidel maid '' | - |
| - | |
| Dig her a grave where she stood and fell | Y |
| 'Gainst the jackal's scratch and the vulture's smell | Y |
| Did the Muscovite men like their maidens fight | Z |
| In their lines we had scarcely supped to night '' | - |
| - | |
| So a deeper trench 'mong the trenches there | N |
| Was dug for the form as brave as fair | N |
| And none till the Judgment trump and shout | M |
| Shall drive her out of the Last Redoubt | M |
Alfred Austin
(1)
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