Josephus Riley Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCCB DDBEEB FFGHIB JJBKKB LLBMMB NNBOOB GGOPPB OOQGGB OOOEEB MMOBRB OOBOOB SSOGGB TTOOOT NNTOOTThe rum was rich and rare | A |
There were wagers in the air | A |
The atmosphere was rosy and the tongues were wagging free | B |
But one was in the revel | C |
Whose occiput was level | C |
Plain Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
The conversation's flow | D |
Was not devoid of blow | D |
And neither was it wanting in the plain colloquial D | B |
With a most ingenuous smile | E |
This here is not my style | E |
Said plain Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
And I wouldn't be averse | F |
To emptying my purse | F |
And laying some small wager with the present companee | G |
To cut the matter short | H |
Foot racing is my forte | I |
Said plain Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
I think it's on the cards | J |
That I can run three hundred yards | J |
The match to be decided where you gentlemen agree | B |
Against your fleetest horse | K |
The race would prove a source | K |
Of pleasure said Josephus from the North Countree | B |
- | |
To equalise the task | L |
This little start I ask | L |
The rider ere he follows must imbibe a cup of tea | B |
A simple breakfast cup | M |
He will have to swallow up | M |
That's me Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
Then a knowing 'un looked wise | N |
Begged to apologise | N |
But might he ask what temp'rature the liquid was to be | B |
Would it come from out the pot | O |
Milkless steaming boiling hot | O |
Oh not at all said Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
Allow me to explain | G |
I do observe with pain | G |
This jocular reflection on my native honestee | O |
My bump of truth is huge | P |
I'd scorn a subterfuge | P |
Said plain Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
Before the parties start | O |
I'll take the Judge apart | O |
To prove by tasting whether I have tampered with | Q |
And I beg to state again | G |
Your suspicions give me pain | G |
Said plain Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
Then they were all satisfied | O |
That the match was boneefied | O |
The bond was signed and Riley went to preparate the tea | O |
But his slow ambiguous smile | E |
Would have seemed to token guile | E |
In any man but Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
He brought the fatal cup | M |
By its saucer covered up | M |
The Judge examined its contents with awful gravitee | O |
Then read the papers o'er | B |
But could not find a flaw | R |
Wade in Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
Then the wagerer just bowed | O |
And passing through the crowd | O |
He handed up the beverage unto the wageree | B |
And off across the flat | O |
Springing gaily pit a pat | O |
Went plain Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
But behind him what a yell | S |
Of execration fell | S |
From lips that lent themselves to shapes of great profanitee | O |
For the people of that town | G |
Were done a lovely brown | G |
By plain Josephus Riley from the North Countree | B |
- | |
And here's the reason why | T |
The tea was simply DRY | T |
You might eat it but to drink it was impossibilitee | O |
But curious to state | O |
Men did not appreciate | O |
This hum'rous innovation from the North Countree | T |
- | |
You'll understand of course | N |
That wager was a source | N |
Of very little profit to the hapless wageree | T |
And dating from that day | O |
I much regret to say | O |
Men look askance at Riley from the North Countree | T |
Barcroft Boake
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