The Van Nessiad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF G H III JJKKLLMMAANOOMMPPQ BBRR S TTUUVVWWCCXXY ZZA2A2B2B2C2From 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
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