The Supreme Test Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCDC EFFEGHHGIIGJKJKGLGLM NMNOO AACCPQPQERERCSSCTCTI UUIEF VWW CKXXK YGZZG A2TT XB2B2 CIIC2D2 E2D2C2F2F2 G2H2HHH2C2C2 XI2C2C2I2XCCX CF2CCF2

Now it was clear to every ShadeA
That some great wonder was before themB
As Tom upon the palisadeA
Emptied as fast as Lulu bore themB
The flasks upon the ocean wagonC
And clear it was when Tom had cleanedD
The liquor from the hundredth flagonC
The Shades then saw Hell's darkest fiendD
A sea cat with an awful jag onC
-
Up to this time he did not seeE
Upon the wide expanse of greyF
A single thing approach his wayF
Which he might call his enemyE
He spent the hours upon the rimG
Leaping dancing rarely sittingH
Always grinning always spittingH
Waiting for a foe to swimG
Within his range but through the nightI
Not a walrus offered fightI
A most unusual night for himG
But with the hundredth flagon drinkJ
He spat at his inactive fateK
And moving closer to the brinkJ
Began more madly to gyrateK
Upon his face ironic grimG
A resolution was ingrainedL
If fish would not come unto himG
To offer battle what remainedL
But that his fighting blood would freezeM
Unless he were allowed to goN
Ranging at will upon the seasM
To fight and conquer every foeN
With that into the cavernous deepO
He took a ghastly flying leapO
-
Gaping breathless every ShadeA
Watched the course of the wild cat's raidA
And never was an errand runC
With means and end so much at oneC
For from his birth he was imbuedP
With hatred of his racial kindQ
A more inveterate blasting feudP
Within the world one could not findQ
His stock were traitors to the seaE
Had somehow learned the ways of earthR
The need of air the mysteryE
Of things warm blooded and of birthR
To avenge this shameful derogationC
He had upon his final flaskS
Resolved to carry out his taskS
To wit the full exterminationC
First of his nearest order maleT
And female then the breed cetaceanC
Grampus porpoise dolphin whaleT
Humpback Rorqual Black and WhiteI
Then the walrus lion hoodU
Seals of all orders these he wouldU
Just as they came in single fightI
Or in the fortunes of m ecirc l eacute eE
Challenge as his lawful preyF
-
The BlacksmithV
I never knew an ocean steedW
Develop such demonic speedW
-
Sir Isaac NewtonC
How he maintains that lightning rateK
Now in air and now in waterX
And carries on such heavy slaughterX
Is more than I can formulateK
-
BlakeY
The tiger though in stretch of limbG
And heft of bone is larger stillZ
For straight uxoricidal willZ
Is but a lamb compared to himG
-
BottomA2
What humour is it makes him flailT
His tawny quarters with that tailT
-
Owen GlendowerX
Did any electrician markB2
The explosive nature of that sparkB2
-
Benjamin FranklinC
I did in truth but cannot quiteI
See on the basis of my kiteI
How such a flame should always sitC2
Upon a wild cat's caudal tipD2
-
AesopE2
Or what blind fury makes him whipD2
His smoking sides to capture itC2
An ignis fatuus that eludesF2
The cat's most sanguinary moodsF2
-
EuclidG2
The reasons for the circles lieH2
Within the nature of the thingH
This cat must run around a ringH
If he would catch his tail But whyH2
So bloodily he chaseth itC2
Is past the compass of my witC2
-
Johnny WalkerX
Just why this wild cat should revolveI2
Leaving his nether tip uncaughtC2
And spend his energy for naughtC2
The denser Shades will never solveI2
But granting that the speed is quickerX
All we discerning spirits knowC
It's just the way a man would goC
Grant the night and grant the liquorX
-
CalvinC
If I had known that such mad brutesF2
Had found before the world beganC
A place within the cosmic planC
They would have dished my InstitutesF2

E. J. Pratt



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