The Sheep-washers' Lament Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABACDE FGEHICDE JKLKMCDE NOPOBCDE QRSRTCDE UBVBWCDE XYZYA2CDE B2C2B2C2B2CWCCome now ye sighing washers all | A |
Join in my doleful lay | B |
Mourn for the times none can recall | A |
With hearts to grief a prey | B |
We'll mourn the washer's sad downfall | A |
In our regretful strain | C |
Lamenting on the days gone by | D |
Ne'er to return again | E |
- | |
When first I went a washing sheep | F |
The year was sixty one | G |
The master was a worker then | E |
The servant was a man | H |
But now the squatters puffed with pride | I |
They treat us with disdain | C |
Lament the days that are gone by | D |
Ne'er to return again | E |
- | |
From sixty one to sixty six | J |
The bushman stout and strong | K |
Would smoke his pipe and whistle his tune | L |
And sing his cheerful song | K |
As wanton as the kangaroo | M |
That bounds across the plain | C |
Lament the days that are gone by | D |
Ne'er to return again | E |
- | |
Supplies of food unstinted good | N |
No squatter did withhold | O |
With plenty grog to cheer our hearts | P |
We feared nor heat nor cold | O |
With six and six per man per day | B |
We sought not to complain | C |
Lament the days that are gone by | D |
Ne'er to return again | E |
- | |
With perfect health a mine of wealth | Q |
Our days seemed short and sweet | R |
On pleasure bent our evenings spent | S |
Enjoyment was complete | R |
But now we toil from morn till night | T |
Though much against the grain | C |
Lamenting on the days gone by | D |
Ne'er to return again | E |
- | |
I once could boast two noble steeds | U |
To bear me on my way | B |
My good revolver in my belt | V |
I never knew dismay | B |
But lonely now I hump my drum | W |
In sunshine and in rain | C |
Lamenting on the days gone by | D |
Ne'er to return again | E |
- | |
A worthy cheque I always earned | X |
And spent it like a lord | Y |
My dress a prince's form would grace | Z |
And spells I could afford | Y |
But now in tattered rags arrayed | A2 |
My limbs they ache with pain | C |
Lamenting on the days gone by | D |
Ne'er to return again | E |
- | |
May bushmen all in unity | B2 |
Combine with heart and hand | C2 |
May cursed cringing poverty | B2 |
Be banished from the land | C2 |
In Queensland may prosperity | B2 |
In regal glory reign | C |
And washers in the time to come | W |
Their vanished rights regain | C |
Banjo Paterson
(1)
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