The Mackaiad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EEFFGGHHIIJJKKL LLMM LLNNKK GOOLLP QQLLRRSSGG LLLLTTUUGGVVVVLLLLWW LL XXAATTBBYZ GGVVLLL

Mackay's hot wrath to Bonynge direful springA
Of blows unnumbered heavenly goddess singA
That wrath which hurled to Hellman's office floorB
Two heroes mutually smeared with goreB
Whose hair in handfuls marked the dire debateC
And riven coat tails testified their hateC
Sing muse what first their indignation firedD
What words augmented it by whom inspiredD
-
First the great Bonynge comes upon the sceneE
And asks the favor of the British QueenE
Suppliant he stands and urges all his claimF
His wealth his portly person and his nameF
His habitation in the setting sunG
As child of nature and his suit he wonG
No more the Sovereign wearied with his pleaH
From slumber's chain her faculties can freeH
Low and more low the royal eyelids creepI
She gives the assenting nod and falls asleepI
Straightway the Bonynges all invade the CourtJ
And telegraph the news to every portJ
Beneath the seas red hot the tidings flyK
The cables crinkle and the fishes fryK
The world awaking like a startled batL
Exclaims 'A Bonynge What the devil's that '-
Mackay meanwhile to envy all attentL
Untaught to spare unable to relentL
Walks in our town on needles and on pinsM
And in a mean revengeful spirit grinsM
-
Sing muse what next to break the peace occurredL
What act uncivil what unfriendly wordL
The god of Bosh ascending from his poolN
Where since creation he has played the foolN
Clove the blue slush as other gods the skyK
And waiting but a moment's space to dryK
Touched Bonynge with his finger tip 'O son '-
He said 'alike of nature and a gunG
Knowest not Mackay's insufferable sinO
Hast thou not heard that he doth stand and grinO
Arise assert thy manhood and attestL
The uncommercial spirit in thy breastL
Avenge thine honor for by Jove I swearP
Thou shalt not else be my peculiar care '-
He spake and ere his worshiper could kneelQ
Had dived into his slush pool head and heelQ
Full of the god and to revenges nervedL
And conscious of a will that never swervedL
Bonynge set sail the world beyond the waveR
As gladly took him as the other gaveR
New York received him but a shudder ranS
Through all the western coast which knew the manS
And science said that the seismic actionG
Was owing to an asteroid's impactionG
-
O goddess sing what Bonynge next essayedL
Did he unscabbard the avenging bladeL
The long spear brandish and porrect the shieldL
Havoc the town and devastate the fieldL
His sacred thirst for blood did he allayT
By halving the unfortunate MackayT
Small were the profit and the joy to himU
To hew a base born person limb from limbU
Let vulgar souls to low revenge inclineG
That of diviner spirits is divineG
Bonynge at noonday stood in public placesV
And with regard to the Mackays made facesV
Before those formidable frowns and scowlsV
The dogs fled tail tucked with affrighted howlsV
And horses terrified with flying feetL
O'erthrew the apple stands along the streetL
Involving the metropolis in vastL
Financial ruin Man himself aghastL
Retreated east and west and north and southW
Before the menace of that twisted mouthW
Till Jove in answer to their prayers sent NightL
To veil the dreadful visage from their sightL
-
Such were the causes of the horrid strifeX
The mother wrongs which nourished it to lifeX
O for a quill from an archangel's wingA
O for a voice that's adequate to singA
The splendor and the terror of the frayT
The scattered hair the coat tails all astrayT
The parted collars and the gouts of goreB
Reeking and smoking on the banker's floorB
The interlocking limbs embraces direY
Revolving bodies and deranged attireZ
-
Vain vain the trial 'tis vouchsafed to noneG
To sing two millionaires rolled into oneG
My hand and pen their offices refuseV
And hoarse and hoarser grows the weary museV
Alone remains to tell of the eventL
Abandoned lost and variously rentL
The Bonynge nethermost habilimentL

Ambrose Bierce



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