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