The Open Steeplechase Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAAB CDCCD EFEEF CGCCG HIHJI CKCCK LELLE MNMMN COCCO CPCCP QERRE CSCCS| I had ridden over hurdles up the country once or twice | A |
| By the side of Snowy River with a horse they called The Ace | B |
| And we brought him down to Sydney and our rider Jimmy Rice | A |
| Got a fall and broke his shoulder so they nabbed me in a trice | A |
| Me that never wore the colours for the open Steeplechase | B |
| - | |
| Make the running said the trainer it's your only chance whatever | C |
| Make it hot from start to finish for the old black horse can stay | D |
| And just think of how they'll take it when they hear on Snowy River | C |
| That the country boy was plucky and the country horse was clever | C |
| You must ride for old Monaro and the mountain boys today | D |
| - | |
| Are you ready said the starter as we held the horses back | E |
| All ablazing with impatience with excitement all aglow | F |
| Before us like a ribbon stretched the steeplechasing track | E |
| And the sun rays glistened brightly on the chestnut and the black | E |
| As the starter's words came slowly Are you ready Go | F |
| - | |
| Well I scarcely knew we'd started I was stupid like with wonder | C |
| Till the field closed up beside me and a jump appeared ahead | G |
| And we flew it like a hurdle not a baulk and not a blunder | C |
| As we charged it all together and it fairly whistled under | C |
| And then some were pulled behind me and a few shot out and led | G |
| - | |
| So we ran for half the distance and I'm making no pretenses | H |
| When I tell you I was feeling very nervous like and queer | I |
| For those jockeys rode like demons you would think they'd lost their senses | H |
| If you saw them rush their horses at those rasping five foot fences | J |
| And in place of making running I was falling to the rear | I |
| - | |
| Till a chap came racing past me on a horse the called The Quiver | C |
| And said he My country joker are you going to give it best | K |
| Are you frightened of the fences does their stoutness make you shiver | C |
| Have they come to breeding cowards by the side of Snowy River | C |
| Are there riders in Monaro but I never heard the rest | K |
| - | |
| For I drove The Ace and sent him just as fast as he could pace it | L |
| At the big black line of timber stretching fair across the track | E |
| And he shot beside The Quiver Now said I my boy we'll race it | L |
| You can come with Snowy River if you're only game to face it | L |
| Let us mend the pace a little and we'll see who cries a crack | E |
| - | |
| So we raced away together and we left the others standing | M |
| And the people cheered and shouted as we settled down to ride | N |
| And we clung beside The Quiver At his taking off and landing | M |
| I could see his scarlet nostril and his mighty ribs expanding | M |
| And The Ace stretched out in earnest and we held him stride for stride | N |
| - | |
| But the pace was so terrific that they soon ran out their tether | C |
| They were rolling in their gallop they were fairly blown and beat | O |
| But they both were game as pebbles neither one would show the feather | C |
| And we rushed them at the fences and they cleared them both together | C |
| Nearly every time they clouted but they somehow kept their feet | O |
| - | |
| Then the last jump rose before us and they faced it game as ever | C |
| We were both at spur and whipcord fetching blood at every bound | P |
| And above the people's cheering and the cries of Ace and Quiver | C |
| I could hear the trainer shouting One more run for Snowy River | C |
| Then we struck the jump together and came smashing to the ground | P |
| - | |
| Well The Quiver ran to blazes but The Ace stood still and waited | Q |
| Stood and waited like a statue while I scrambled on its back | E |
| There was no one next or near me for the field was fairly slated | R |
| So I cantered home a winner with my shoulder dislocated | R |
| While the man who rode The Quiver followed limping down the track | E |
| - | |
| And he shook my hand and told me that in all his days he never | C |
| Met a man who rode more gamely and our last set to was prime | S |
| Then we wired them on Monaro how we chanced to beat The Quiver | C |
| And they sent us back an answer Good old sort from Snowy River | C |
| Send us word each race you start in and we'll back you every time | S |
Banjo Paterson (andrew Barton)
(1)
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