The Scottish Engineer Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCB DEDE FGFFGHG CICCIJI KLKL MNMNFN OHPPQRSH RTUVVW AGAGTTG XYXY PXPXHH XZHZQXXXHWith eyes that searched in the dark | A |
Peering along the line | B |
Stood the grim Scotsman Hector Clark | A |
Driver of Forty nine | B |
And the veldt fire flamed on the hills ahead | C |
Like a blood red beacon sign | B |
- | |
There was word of a fight to the north | D |
And a column too hardly pressed | E |
So they started the Highlanders forth | D |
Heedless of food or rest | E |
- | |
But the pipers gaily played | F |
Chanting their fierce delight | G |
And the armoured carriages rocked and swayed | F |
Laden with men of the Scots Brigade | F |
Hurrying up to the fight | G |
And the grim grey Highland engineer | H |
Driving them into the night | G |
- | |
Then a signal light glowed red | C |
And a picket came to the track | I |
Enemy holding the line ahead | C |
Three of our mates we have left for dead | C |
Only we two got back | I |
And far to the north through the still night air | J |
They heard the rifles crack | I |
- | |
And the boom of a gun rang out | K |
Like the sound of a deep appeal | L |
And the picket stood in doubt | K |
By the side of the driving wheel | L |
- | |
But the engineer looked down | M |
With his hand on the starting bar | N |
Ride ye back to the town | M |
Ye know what my orders are | N |
Maybe they're wanting the Scots Brigade | F |
Up on those hills afar | N |
- | |
I am no soldier at all | O |
Only an engineer | H |
But I could not bear that the folk should say | P |
Over in Scotland Glasgow way | P |
That Hector Clark stayed here | Q |
With the Scots Brigade till the foe was gone | R |
With ever a rail to run her on | S |
Ready behind Stand clear | H |
- | |
Fireman get you gone | R |
Into the armoured train | T |
I will drive her alone | U |
One more trip and perhaps the last | V |
With a well raked fire and an open blast | V |
Hark to the rifles again | W |
- | |
On through the choking dark | A |
Never a lamp nor a light | G |
Never an engine spark | A |
Showing her hurried flight | G |
Over the lonely plain | T |
Rushed the great armoured train | T |
Hurrying up to the fight | G |
- | |
Then with her living freight | X |
On to the foe she came | Y |
And the rides snapped their hate | X |
And the darkness spouted flame | Y |
- | |
Over the roar of the fray | P |
The hungry bullets whined | X |
As she dashed through the foe that lay | P |
Loading and firing blind | X |
Till the glare of the furnace burning clear | H |
Showed them the form of the engineer | H |
- | |
Sharply and well defined | X |
Through They are safely through | Z |
Hark to the column's cheer | H |
Surely the driver knew | Z |
He was to halt her here | Q |
But he took no heed of the signals red | X |
And the fireman found when he climbed ahead | X |
There on the door of his engine dead | X |
The Scottish Engineer | H |
Banjo Paterson
(1)
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