Macbreath Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBA C DEFA AAGHI J AK A CAIAILIIIAA MA IABNIDOAPPAQRIBIIAAS C AI CEI T ADAFI TMBB U UTB AIA V AIWIA XY B Z A2 DDAIA PB ARPI FPPABA B2BC2D2D2AA DA Tragedy as Played at Ryde | A |
- | |
- | |
Macbreath Mr Henley | B |
Macpuff Mr Terry | B |
The Ghost | A |
- | |
ACT I | C |
- | |
TIME The day before the election | D |
SCENE A Drummoyne tram running past a lunatic asylum | E |
All present are Reform Leaguers and supporters of Macbreath | F |
They seat themselves in the compartment | A |
- | |
MACBREATH Here I'll sit in the midst | A |
Be large in mirth Anon we'll all be fitted | A |
With Parliamentary seats | G |
Voter approaches the door | H |
There's blood upon thy face | I |
- | |
VOTER 'Tis Thompsons's then | J |
- | |
MACBREATH Is he thrown out How neatly we beguiled | A |
The guileless Thompson Did he sign a pledge agreeing to retire | K |
- | |
VOTER Aye that he did | A |
- | |
MACBREATH Not so did I | C |
Not on the doubtful hazard of a vote | A |
By Ryde electors cherry pickers oafs | I |
That drive their market carts at dread of night | A |
And sleep all day Not on the jaundiced choice | I |
Of folks who daily run their half a mile | L |
Just after breakfast when the steamer hoots | I |
Her warning to the laggard not on these | I |
Relied Macbreath for if these rustics' choice | I |
Had fall'n on Thompson I should still have claimed | A |
A conference But hold Is Thompson out | A |
- | |
VOTER My lord his name is mud That I did for him | M |
I paid my shilling and I cast my vote | A |
- | |
MACBREATH Thou art the best of all the shilling voters | I |
Prithee be near me on election day | A |
To see me smite Macpuff and now we shan't | B |
Be long | N |
Ghost of Thompson appears | I |
What's this A vision | D |
Thou canst not say I did it Never shake | O |
Thy gory locks at me Run for some other seat | A |
Let the woods hide thee Prithee chase thyself | P |
The ghost of Thompson disappears and Macbreath revives himself | P |
with a great effort | A |
Leaguers all | Q |
Mine own especial comrades of Reform | R |
All amateurs and no professionals | I |
So many worthy candidates I see | B |
Alas that there are only ninety seats | I |
Still let us take them all and Joe Carruthers | I |
Ashton and Jimmy Hogue and all the rest | A |
Will have to look for work Oh joyous day | A |
To morrow's poll will make me M L A | S |
- | |
ACT II | C |
- | |
TIME Election day | A |
SCENE Macbreath's committee rooms | I |
- | |
MACBREATH Bring me no more reports let them all fly | C |
Till Labour's platform to Kyabram come | E |
I cannot taint with fear How go the votes | I |
- | |
Enter first voter | T |
- | |
FIRST VOTER May it please my Lord | A |
The cherry pickers' vote is two to one | D |
Towards Macpuff and all our voters say | A |
The ghost of Thompson sits in every booth | F |
And talks of pledges | I |
- | |
MACBREATH What a polished liar | T |
And yet the dead can vote Strikes him | M |
What if it should be | B |
Ghost of Thompson appears to him suddenly | B |
- | |
GHOST The Pledge The Pledge | U |
- | |
MACBREATH I say I never signed the gory pledge | U |
Ghost disappears Enter a Messenger | T |
Thou com'st to use thy tongue Thy story quickly | B |
- | |
MESSENGER Gracious my Lord | A |
I should report that which I know I saw | I |
But know not how to do it | A |
- | |
MACBREATH Well say on | V |
- | |
MESSENGER As I did stand my watch in Parliament | A |
I saw the Labour platform come across | I |
And join Kyabram Loans were overthrown | W |
The numbers were reduced extravagance | I |
Is put an end to by McGowan's vote | A |
- | |
MACBREATH The devil damn thee black thou cream faced loon | X |
Where got'st thou this fish yarn | Y |
- | |
MESSENGER There's nearly forty | B |
- | |
MACBREATH Thieves fool | Z |
- | |
MESSENGER No members will be frozen out of work | A2 |
- | |
MACBREATH Aye runs the story so Well well 'tis sudden | D |
These are the uses of the politician | D |
A few brief sittings and another contest | A |
He hardly gets to know th' billiard tables | I |
Before he's out | A |
- | |
Alarums and Harbour excursions enter Macpuff | P |
at the head of a Picnic Party | B |
- | |
MACPUFF Now yield thee tyrant | A |
By that fourth party which I once did form | R |
I'll take thee to a picnic there to live | P |
On windfall oranges | I |
- | |
MACBREATH Nay rather death | F |
Death before picnic Lay on Macpuff | P |
And damned be he who first cries Hold enough | P |
They fight Macbreath is struck on the back of the head | A |
by some blue metal from Pennant Hills Quarry He falls The referee | B |
counts One two three eight nine ten out | A |
- | |
MACPUFF Kind voters all and worthy gentlemen | B2 |
Who rallied to my flag today and made me | B |
Member for Thompson from my soul I thank you | C2 |
There needs no trumpet blast for I can blow | D2 |
Like any trombone Prithee let us go | D2 |
Thanks to you all who shared this glorious day | A |
Whom I invite to dance at Chowder Bay | A |
- | |
Curtain | D |
Banjo Paterson (andrew Barton)
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Macbreath poem by Banjo Paterson (andrew Barton)
Best Poems of Banjo Paterson (andrew Barton)