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