Master Johnny's Next-door Neighbor Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH IIDD JJEE KKLL MMCC| It was spring the first time that I saw her for her papa and mamma moved in | A |
| Next door just as skating was over and marbles about to begin | A |
| For the fence in our back yard was broken and I saw as I peeped through the slat | B |
| There were Johnny jump ups all around her and I knew it was spring just by that | B |
| - | |
| I never knew whether she saw me for she didn't say nothing to me | C |
| But Ma here's a slat in the fence broke and the boy that is next door can see | C |
| But the next day I climbed on our wood shed as you know Mamma says I've a right | D |
| And she calls out Well peekin' is manners and I answered her Sass is perlite | D |
| - | |
| But I wasn't a bit mad no Papa and to prove it the very next day | E |
| When she ran past our fence in the morning I happened to get in her way | E |
| For you know I am chunked and clumsy as she says are all boys of my size | F |
| And she nearly upset me she did Pa and laughed till tears came in her eyes | F |
| - | |
| And then we were friends from that moment for I knew that she told Kitty Sage | G |
| And she wasn't a girl that would flatter that she thought I was tall for my age | G |
| And I gave her four apples that evening and took her to ride on my sled | H |
| And What am I telling you this for Why Papa my neighbor is dead | H |
| - | |
| You don't hear one half I am saying I really do think it's too bad | I |
| Why you might have seen crape on her door knob and noticed to day I've been sad | I |
| And they've got her a coffin of rosewood and they say they have dressed her in white | D |
| And I've never once looked through the fence Pa since she died at eleven last night | D |
| - | |
| And Ma says it's decent and proper as I was her neighbor and friend | J |
| That I should go there to the funeral and she thinks that you ought to attend | J |
| But I am so clumsy and awkward I know I shall be in the way | E |
| And suppose they should speak to me Papa I wouldn't know just what to say | E |
| - | |
| So I think I will get up quite early I know I sleep late but I know | K |
| I'll be sure to wake up if our Bridget pulls the string that I'll tie to my toe | K |
| And I'll crawl through the fence and I'll gather the Johnny jump ups as they grew | L |
| Round her feet the first day that I saw her and Papa I'll give them to you | L |
| - | |
| For you're a big man and you know Pa can come and go just where you choose | M |
| And you'll take the flowers in to her and surely they'll never refuse | M |
| But Papa don't say they're from Johnny they won't understand don't you see | C |
| But just lay them down on her bosom and Papa she'll know they're from Me | C |
Bret Harte (francis)
(1)
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