The Sea-swallows Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CBCB DBDB EBAB FBFB GBGB DBDB HBHB ABEB DBDB IBIB DBDB JBJB CBKB LBMB NBNB| THIS FELL when Christmas lights were done | A |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| But before the Easter lights begun | A |
| The ways are sair fra the Till to the Tyne | B |
| - | |
| Two lovers sat where the rowan blows | C |
| And all the grass is heavy and fine | B |
| By the gathering place of the sea swallows | C |
| When the wind brings them over Tyne | B |
| - | |
| Blossom of broom will never make bread | D |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| Between her brows she is grown red | D |
| That was full white in the fields by Tyne | B |
| - | |
| O what is this thing ye have on | E |
| Show me now sweet daughter of mine | B |
| O father this is my little son | A |
| That I found hid in the sides of Tyne | B |
| - | |
| O what will ye give my son to eat | F |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| Fen water and adder s meat | F |
| The ways are sair fra the Till to the Tyne | B |
| - | |
| Or what will ye get my son to wear | G |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| A weed and a web of nettle s hair | G |
| The ways are sair fra the Till to the Tyne | B |
| - | |
| Or what will ye take to line his bed | D |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| Two black stones at the kirkwall s head | D |
| The ways are sair fra the Till to the Tyne | B |
| - | |
| Or what will ye give my son for land | H |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| Three girl s paces of red sand | H |
| The ways are sair fra the Till to the Tyne | B |
| - | |
| Or what will ye give me for my son | A |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| Six times to kiss his young mouth on | E |
| The ways are sair fra the Till to the Tyne | B |
| - | |
| But what have ye done with the bearing bread | D |
| And what have ye made of the washing wine | B |
| Or where have ye made your bearing bed | D |
| To bear a son in the sides of Tyne | B |
| - | |
| The bearing bread is soft and new | I |
| There is no soil in the straining wine | B |
| The bed was made between green and blue | I |
| It stands full soft by the sides of Tyne | B |
| - | |
| The fair grass was my bearing bread | D |
| The well water my washing wine | B |
| The low leaves were my bearing bed | D |
| And that was best in the sides of Tyne | B |
| - | |
| O daughter if ye have done this thing | J |
| I wot the greater grief is mine | B |
| This was a bitter child bearing | J |
| When ye were got by the sides of Tyne | B |
| - | |
| About the time of sea swallows | C |
| That fly full thick by six and nine | B |
| Ye ll have my body out of the house | K |
| To bury me by the sides of Tyne | B |
| - | |
| Set nine stones by the wall for twain | L |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| For the bed I take will measure ten | M |
| The ways are sair fra the Till to the Tyne | B |
| - | |
| Tread twelve girl s paces out for three | N |
| Red rose leaves will never make wine | B |
| For the pit I made has taken me | N |
| The ways are sair fra the Till to the Tyne | B |
Algernon Charles Swinburne
(1)
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About The Sea-swallows
The Sea-swallows is a poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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