Elizabeth Speaks Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCDEFFCGCGHIHJJJKK LLMNOOGPMQMRRSTTUVWO VO HHCCXYXZYZA2B2C2HC2H D2CCE2E2C C F2G2H2 I2FZHZHJ2YY CCK2K2L2L2 F2KK QQZZZM2M2Aetat Six | A |
- | |
- | |
Now every night we light the grate | B |
And I sit up till really late | B |
My Father sits upon the right | C |
My Mother on the left and I | D |
Between them on an ancient chair | E |
That once belonged to my Great Gran | F |
Before my Father was a man | F |
We sit without another light | C |
I really truly never tire | G |
Watching that space as black as night | C |
That hangs behind the fire | G |
For there sometimes you know | H |
The dearest queerest little sparks | I |
Without a sound creep to and fro | H |
Sometimes they form in rings | J |
Or lines that look like many things | J |
Like skipping ropes or hoops or swings | J |
Before you know what you're about | K |
They all go out | K |
- | |
My Father says that they are gnomes | L |
Beyond the grate they have their homes | L |
In a tall black and windy town | M |
Behind a door we cannot see | N |
Often when it's time for bed | O |
The children run away instead | O |
Out through the door to see our fire | G |
Then their angry parents come | P |
With every candle in the town | M |
The beadle with his lantern too | Q |
And search and rummage up and down | M |
To catch the children as they play | R |
Between the rows of new mown hay | R |
And bring them home | S |
They must be O so very small | T |
How do they capture them at all | T |
But then they must be very dear | U |
When they can find no more | V |
They blow a horn we cannot hear | W |
And march with the beadle at their head | O |
Right through the little open door | V |
Then close it tight and go to bed | O |
- | |
My Mother says that may be so | H |
They both agree they're gnomes you know | H |
She says she thinks that every night | C |
The gnomes have had a fearful fight | C |
Their valiant General has been slain | X |
And all the soldiers leave the camp | Y |
To dig his grave upon the plain | X |
They drag the General on a gun | Z |
Every bandsman has a lamp | Y |
And there's a torch for every one | Z |
They dig his grave with bayonets | A2 |
And wrap him grandly in his flag | B2 |
Then they gather in a ring | C2 |
The band plays very soft and low | H |
And all the soldiers sing | C2 |
Of course we cannot hear you know | H |
Then some one calls 'The enemy comes ' | - |
They muffle up their pipes and drums | D2 |
Every soldier in a fright | C |
Puts out his light | C |
Then hand in hand and very still | E2 |
They clamber up the dark dark hill | E2 |
And hold their breath tight tight | C |
- | |
I'd like to know which tale is right | C |
- | |
O there is something I forgot | F2 |
Sometimes one little spark burns on | G2 |
Long after the rest have gone | H2 |
- | |
My Father says that lamp is left | I2 |
By a little crooked crotchety man | F |
Who cannot find his wayward son | Z |
When the horn begins to blow | H |
He has to drop his light and run | Z |
Of course he limps so slow | H |
He squeezes through the very last | J2 |
When he is gone the naughty scamp | Y |
Jumps up and puff out goes the lamp | Y |
- | |
My Mother says that is the light | C |
Borne by the very bravest knight | C |
He is so very very brave | K2 |
He would not leave his General's grave | K2 |
And when the Enemy General tries | L2 |
To make him tell where his General lies | L2 |
He answers boldly 'I will not ' | - |
Then they shoot him on the spot | F2 |
And give a horrid dreadful shout | K |
And then of course his light goes out | K |
- | |
I sit and think when they are through | Q |
Which tale I like best of the two | Q |
Sometimes I like the Father one | Z |
It is such fun | Z |
But then I love the Mother one | Z |
That dear brave soldier and the rest | M2 |
Now which one do you like the best | M2 |
Duncan Campbell Scott
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Elizabeth Speaks poem by Duncan Campbell Scott
Best Poems of Duncan Campbell Scott