The Magpie's Nest, Or A Lesson Of Docility Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDC CECE FGF HIHJ CKC CCCC HCFC L L CCM NON PPP CCCC CHCH CQC RJRI QCQC| A FABLE | A |
| - | |
| When the arts in their infancy were | B |
| In a fable of old 'tis exprest | C |
| A wise magpie constructed that rare | D |
| Little house for young birds called a nest | C |
| - | |
| This was talked of the whole country round | C |
| You might hear it on every bough sung | E |
| 'Now no longer upon the rough ground | C |
| Will fond mothers brood over their young | E |
| - | |
| 'For the magpie with exquisite skill | F |
| Has invented a moss covered cell | G |
| Within which a whole family will | F |
| In the utmost security dwell ' | - |
| - | |
| To her mate did each female bird say | H |
| 'Let us fly to the magpie my dear | I |
| If she will but teach us the way | H |
| A nest we will build us up here | J |
| - | |
| 'It's a thing that's close arched over head | C |
| With a hole made to creep out and in | K |
| We my bird might make just such a bed | C |
| If we only knew how to begin ' | - |
| - | |
| To the magpie soon every bird went | C |
| And in modest terms made their request | C |
| That she would be pleased to consent | C |
| To teach them to build up a nest | C |
| - | |
| She replied 'I will show you the way | H |
| So observe every thing that I do | C |
| First two sticks cross each other I lay' | F |
| 'To be sure ' said the crow 'why I knew | C |
| - | |
| 'It must be begun with two sticks | L |
| And I thought that they cross d should be ' | - |
| Said the pie 'Then some straw and moss mix | L |
| In the way you now see done by me ' | - |
| - | |
| 'O yes certainly ' said the jackdaw | C |
| 'That must follow of course I have thought | C |
| Though I never before building saw | M |
| I guessed that without being taught ' | - |
| - | |
| 'More moss straw and feathers I place | N |
| In this manner ' continued the pie | O |
| 'Yes no doubt madam that is the case | N |
| Though no builder myself even I ' | - |
| - | |
| Said the starling 'conjectured 'twas so | P |
| It must of necessity follow | P |
| For more moss straw and feathers I know | P |
| It requires to be soft round and hollow ' | - |
| - | |
| Whatever she taught them beside | C |
| In his turn every bird of them said | C |
| Though the nest making art he ne'er tried | C |
| He had just such a thought in his head | C |
| - | |
| Still the pie went on showing her art | C |
| Till a nest she had built up half way | H |
| She no more of her skill would impart | C |
| But in anger went fluttering away | H |
| - | |
| And this speech in their hearing she made | C |
| As she perched o'er their heads on a tree | Q |
| 'If ye all were well skilled in my trade | C |
| Pray why came ye to learn it of me ' | - |
| - | |
| When a scholar is willing to learn | R |
| He with silent submission should hear | J |
| Too late they their folly discern | R |
| The effect to this day does appear | I |
| - | |
| - | |
| For whenever a pie's nest you see | Q |
| Her charming warm canopy view | C |
| All birds' nests but hers seem to be | Q |
| A magpie's nest just cut in two | C |
Charles Lamb
(1)
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About The Magpie's Nest, Or A Lesson Of Docility
The Magpie's Nest, Or A Lesson Of Docility is a poem by Charles Lamb. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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