A Castaway Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNIOPQRS TUB VFFF WXYZA2B2C2D2 E2FOJF2G2H2I2G2J2C2 K2FL2 M2BN2O2P2Q2R2S2FIFL2 T2U2 H2V2P2W2SX2Y2B FZ2A3B3HN2N2N2C3N2D3 T2E3F3H2N2G3FH2N2N2H 3A3I3N2G3F3N2N2J3N2K 3Q L3M3M2N2SN2N3W2N2O3N 2P3I3F Q3R3N2N2S3T3M3I2H2C3 N2N2H2SU3N2QH2N2 FV3W3X3N2P2T2 N2FP2C3F3Y3O3N2Y3H2 SN2N2T2SZ3FN2A2N2P3B 2FA4H2 I2B4N2N2N2N2M2W2 C4N2R3D4KE4QF4N2G4N2 F

Poor little diary with its simple thoughtsA
its good resolves its Studied French an hourB
Read Modern History Trimmed up my grey hatC
Darned stockings Tatted Practised my new songD
Went to the daily service Took Bess soupE
Went out to tea Poor simple diaryF
and did I write it Was I this good girlG
this budding colourless young rose of homeH
did I so live content in such a lifeI
seeing no larger scope nor asking itJ
than this small constant round old clothes to mendK
new clothes to make then go and say my prayersL
or carry soup or take a little walkM
and pick the ragged robins in the hedgeN
Then for ambition was there ever lifeI
that could forego that to improve my mindO
and know French better and sing harder songsP
for gaiety to go in my best whiteQ
well washed and starched and freshened with new bowsR
and take tea out to meet the clergymanS
No wishes and no cares almost no hopesT
only the young girl's hazed and golden dreamsU
that veil the Future from herB
-
So long sinceV
and now it seems a jest to talk of meF
as if I could be one with her of meF
who am meF
-
And what is that My looking glassW
answers it passably a woman sureX
no fiend no slimy thing out of the poolsY
a woman with a ripe and smiling lipZ
that has no venom in its touch I thinkA2
with a white brow on which there is no brandB2
a woman none dare call not beautifulC2
not womanly in every woman's graceD2
-
Aye let me feed upon my beauty thusE2
be glad in it like painters when they seeF
at last the face they dreamed but could not findO
look from their canvass on them triumph in itJ
the dearest thing I have Why 'tis my allF2
let me make much of it is it not thisG2
this beauty my own curse at once and toolH2
to snare men's souls I know what the good sayI2
of beauty in such creatures is it not thisG2
that makes me feel myself a woman stillJ2
some little pride some littleC2
-
Here's a jestK2
what word will fit the sense but modestyF
A wanton I but modestL2
-
Modest trueM2
I'm not drunk in the streets ply not for hireB
at infamous corners with my likenessesN2
of the humbler kind yes modesty's my wordO2
'twould shape my mouth well too I think I'll tryP2
Sir Mr What you will Lord Who knows whatQ2
my present lover or my next to comeR2
value me at my worth fill your purse fullS2
for I am modest yes and honour meF
as though your schoolgirl sister or your wifeI
could let her skirts brush mine or talk of meF
for I am modestL2
-
Well I flout myselfT2
but yet but yetU2
-
Fie poor fantastic foolH2
why do I play the hypocrite aloneV2
who am no hypocrite with others byP2
where should be my But yet I am that thingW2
called half a dozen dainty names and noneS
dainty enough to serve the turn and hideX2
the one coarse English worst that lurks beneathY2
just that no worse no betterB
-
And for meF
I say let no one be above her tradeZ2
I own my kindredship with any drabA3
who sells herself as I although she crouchB3
in fetid garrets and I have a homeH
all velvet and marqueterie and pastillesN2
although she hide her skeleton in ragsN2
and I set fashions and wear cobweb laceN2
the difference lies but in my choicer wareC3
that I sell beauty and she uglinessN2
our traffic's one I'm no sweet slaver tongueD3
to gloze upon it and explain myselfT2
a sort of fractious angel misconceivedE3
our traffic's one I own it And what thenF3
I know of worse that are called honourableH2
Our lawyers who with noble eloquenceN2
and virtuous outbursts lie to hang a manG3
or lie to save him which way goes the feeF
our preachers gloating on your future hellH2
for not believing what they doubt themselvesN2
our doctors who sort poisons out by chanceN2
and wonder how they'll answer and grow richH3
our journalists whose business is to fibA3
and juggle truths and falsehoods to and froI3
our tradesmen who must keep unspotted namesN2
and cheat the least like stealing that they canG3
our all of them the virtuous worthy menF3
who feed on the world's follies vices wantsN2
and do their businesses of lies and shamsN2
honestly reputably while the worldJ3
claps hands and cries good luck which of their tradesN2
their honourable trades barefaced like mineK3
all secrets brazened out would shew more whiteQ
-
And whom do I hurt more than they as muchL3
The wives Poor fools what do I take from themM3
worth crying for or keeping If they knewM2
what their fine husbands look like seen by eyesN2
that may perceive there are more men than oneS
But if they can let them just take the painsN2
to keep them 'tis not such a mighty taskN3
to pin an idiot to your apron stringW2
and wives have an advantage over usN2
the good and blind ones have the smile or poutO3
leaves them no secret nausea at odd timesN2
Oh they could keep their husbands if they caredP3
but 'tis an easier life to let them goI3
and whimper at it for moralityF
-
Oh those shrill carping virtues safely housedQ3
from reach of even a smile that should put redR3
on a decorous cheek who rail at usN2
with such a spiteful scorn and rancourousnessN2
which maybe is half envy at the heartS3
and boast themselves so measurelessly goodT3
and us so measurelessly unlike themM3
what is their wondrous merit that they stayI2
in comfortable homes whence not a soulH2
has ever thought of tempting them and wearC3
no kisses but a husband's upon lipsN2
there is no other man desires to kissN2
refrain in fact from sin impossibleH2
How dare they hate us so what have they doneS
what borne to prove them other than we areU3
What right have they to scorn us glass case saintsN2
Dianas under lock and key what rightQ
more than the well fed helpless barn door fowlH2
to scorn the larcenous wild birdsN2
-
Pshaw let beF
Scorn or no scorn what matter for their scornV3
I have outfaced my own that's harder workW3
Aye let their virtuous malice dribble onX3
mock snowstorms on the stage I'm proof long sinceN2
I have looked coolly on my what and whyP2
and I accept myselfT2
-
Oh I'll endorseN2
the shamefullest revilings mouthed at meF
cry True Oh perfect picture Yes that's IP2
and add a telling blackness here and thereC3
and then dare swear you every nine of tenF3
my judges and accusers I'd not changeY3
my conscience against yours you who tread outO3
your devil's pilgrimage along the roadsN2
that take in church and chapel and arrangeY3
a roundabout and decent way to hellH2
-
Well mine's a short way and a merry oneS
so says my pious hash of ohs and ahsN2
choice texts and choicer threats appropriate namesN2
Rahabs and Jezebels some fierce TartuffeT2
hurled at me through the post We had rare funS
over that tract digested with champagneZ3
Where is it where's my rich repertoryF
of insults biblical 'I prey on souls'N2
only my men have oftenest none I thinkA2
'I snare the simple ones' but in these daysN2
there seem to be none simple and none snaredP3
and most men have their favourite sinnings plannedB2
to do them civilly and sensiblyF
'I braid my hair' but braids are out of dateA4
'I paint my cheeks' I always wear them paleH2
'I '-
-
Pshaw the trash is savourless to dayI2
one cannot laugh alone There let it burnB4
What does the windy dullard think one needsN2
his wisdom dove tailed on to Solomon'sN2
his threats out threatening God's to teach the newsN2
that those who need not sin have safer soulsN2
We know it but we've bodies to save tooM2
and so we earn our livingW2
-
Well lit tractC4
at least you've made me a good leaping blazeN2
Up up how the flame shoots and now 'tis deadR3
Oh proper finish preaching to the lastD4
no such bad omen either sudden endK
and no sad withering horrible old ageE4
How one would clutch at youth to hold it tightQ
and then to know it gone to see it goneF4
be taught its absence by harsh careless looksN2
to live forgotten solitary oldG4
the cruellest word that ever woman learnsN2
Old that's to be nothing or tF

Augusta Davies Webster



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