The Van Nessiad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF G H III JJKKLLMMAANOOMMPPQ BBRR S TTUUVVWWCCXXY ZZA2A2B2B2C2| From end to end thine avenue Van Ness | A |
| Rang with the cries of battle and distress | A |
| Brave lungs were thundering with dreadful sound | B |
| And perspiration smoked along the ground | B |
| Sing heavenly muse to ears of mortal clay | C |
| The meaning cause and finish of the fray | C |
| - | |
| Great Porter Ashe invoking first the gods | D |
| Who signed their favor with assenting nods | D |
| That snapped off half their heads their necks grown dry | E |
| Since last the nectar cup went circling by | E |
| Resolved to build a stable on his lot | F |
| His neighbors fiercely swearing he should not | F |
| Said he 'I build that stable ' 'No you don't ' | - |
| Said they 'I can ' 'You can't ' 'I will ' 'You won't ' | - |
| 'By heaven ' he swore 'not only will I build | G |
| But purchase donkeys till the place is filled ' | - |
| 'Needless expense ' they sneered in tones of ice | H |
| 'The owner's self if lodged there would suffice ' | - |
| For three long months the awful war they waged | I |
| With women women men with men engaged | I |
| While roaring babes and shrilling poodles raged | I |
| - | |
| Jove from Olympus where he still maintains | J |
| His ancient session with rheumatic pains | J |
| Touched by his long exposure marked the strife | K |
| Interminable but by loss of life | K |
| For malediction soon exhausts the breath | L |
| If not old age itself is certain death | L |
| Lo he holds high in heaven the fatal beam | M |
| A golden pan depends from each extreme | M |
| This feels of Porter's fate the downward stress | A |
| That bears the destiny of all Van Ness | A |
| Alas the rusted scales their life all gone | N |
| Deliver judgment neither pro nor con | O |
| The dooms hang level and the war goes on | O |
| With a divine contemptuous disesteem | M |
| Jove dropped the pans and kicked himself the beam | M |
| Then to decide the strife with ready wit | P |
| The nickel that he did not care for it | P |
| Twirled absently remarking 'See it spin | Q |
| Head Porter loses tail the others win ' | - |
| The conscious nickel charged with doom spun round | B |
| Portentously and made a ringing sound | B |
| Then staggering beneath its load of fate | R |
| Sank rattling died at last and lay in state | R |
| - | |
| Jove scanned the disk and then as is his wont | S |
| Raised his considering orbs exclaiming 'Front ' | - |
| With leisurely alacrity approached | T |
| The herald god to whom his mind he broached | T |
| 'In San Francisco two belligerent Powers | U |
| Such as contended round great Ilion's towers | U |
| Fight for a stable though in either class | V |
| There's not a horse and but a single ass | V |
| Achilles Ashe with formidable jaw | W |
| Assails a Trojan band with fierce hee haw | W |
| Firing the night with brilliant curses They | C |
| With dark vituperation gloom the day | C |
| Fate against which nor gods nor men compete | X |
| Decrees their victory and his defeat | X |
| With haste good Mercury betake thee hence | Y |
| And salivate him till he has no sense ' | - |
| - | |
| Sheer downward shot the messenger afar | Z |
| Trailing a splendor like a falling star | Z |
| With dimming lustre through the air he burned | A2 |
| Vanished nor till another sun returned | A2 |
| The sovereign of the gods superior smiled | B2 |
| Beaming benignant fatherly and mild | B2 |
| 'Is Destiny's decree performed my lad | C2 |
| And has he now no sense ' 'Ah sire he never had ' | - |
Ambrose Bierce
(1)
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About The Van Nessiad
The Van Nessiad is a poem by Ambrose Bierce. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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