The Leader That Was Pushed Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EFGGHHII JJKLMKNNODDO PPQQBBRR SSGTTGQQCUUC VWQQKKWV UUXXKKQQ KKKKKKHHKYYK| Once on a time a general whose name is handed down | A |
| To the present generation as a name of high renown | A |
| Once on a time this general I trust you understand | B |
| This happened years and years ago and in a foreign land | B |
| This general once stood before his army thinking hard | C |
| And he talked about advancing but he didn't move a yard | C |
| For to put the matter plainly though he knew his cause was right | D |
| And desired to be the leader yet he didn't want to fight | D |
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| He bravely talked for hours and hours of tactics and defence | E |
| In good sooth he was a leader of undoubted eloquence | F |
| Till his soldiers grew impatient for they spied afar the foe | G |
| So they started marching forward and the leader had to go | G |
| Though he begged for time to elocute they forced him to a walk | H |
| Then they broke into a double and he hadn't breath to talk | H |
| If his soldiers start to push him well that can a leader do | I |
| Thus he led his army forward of necessity 'tis true | I |
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| Oh they forced him to a run | J |
| And the firing of a gun | J |
| Gave him qualms about the business but he couldn't change his mind | K |
| He'd have dearly loved to pause | L |
| And orate about The Cause | M |
| But he had to keep responding to the pressure from behind | K |
| Then he yelled a battle cry | N |
| And he waved his sword on high | N |
| But he mournfully reflected as he viewed the foemen's horde | O |
| Leadership may be all right | D |
| While the foe is out of sight | D |
| But like the pen the silver tongue is safer than the sword | O |
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| The fight was won That general his heart swelled up with pride | P |
| Delivered speeches eloquent to his victorious side | P |
| And the peroration hinted they should rest while they'd the chance | Q |
| But the army wanted more of it and urged him to advance | Q |
| 'Twas here the general resigned to join another band | B |
| That didn't yearn to go and fight the battles of the land | B |
| 'Twas a calm reposeful army and that leader suited well | R |
| For it let him talk of fighting while it sat and took a spell | R |
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| He was leader of the tired | S |
| And he never was required | S |
| To go ranging o'er the country to attack a savage foe | G |
| And whene'er he thought it best | T |
| To sit down and take a rest | T |
| Well it's rude to push a leader when he doesn't want to go | G |
| And if by some mischance | Q |
| He should mention an advance | Q |
| They would let him talk about it and applaud him very hard | C |
| They would hail him as the man | U |
| Who by right was in the van | U |
| But they'd grab him by the coat tails if he sought to move a yard | C |
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| Give attention now my masters to this general's career | V |
| He was affable and eloquent but let me mention here | W |
| This happened very long since twenty thousand years or so | Q |
| For now we know a leader leads before he's forced to go | Q |
| But if perchance at any time a leader you should find | K |
| Who objects to moving onward till he gets a push behind | K |
| Far better shift him from the front his place is never here | W |
| And let him join the other crowd the Army of the Rear | V |
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| Let us have a moving army let its leader be a man | U |
| Who doesn't need a shove behind to keep him in the van | U |
| And if he halts to elocute let's shift him off the track | X |
| And put him 'mid the baggage carts and lumber at the back | X |
| There to seek a reputation with the busted and the bushed | K |
| For no man may seek for Honor who insists on being pushed | K |
| And he who seeks to lead must keep ahead a yard or so | Q |
| For it's rude to push a leader when he doesn't want to go | Q |
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| For a leader of the kind | K |
| Who requires a kick behind | K |
| Isn't any sort of leader when you come to think of it | K |
| And the generals we need | K |
| Are the fellows who CAN lead | K |
| The men who know the track to go and tackle it with grit | K |
| Wherefore when you hear the talk | H |
| Of these fellows who would baulk | H |
| While they flood the land with eloquence till mentally you're bushed | K |
| Just remember words and air | Y |
| Seldom lead to anywhere | Y |
| And reflect upon the story of the leader that was pushed | K |
Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
(1)
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