The Great Boat-race Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDAAEAB F GGHHIJKKLLMMHHNDOOHH MMPPGGEEQHPPRRSSTTPP GGPPSSUVPPPPWWPPXXHH HHHHHHYYWW W WHAWKSHAW rd Trinity | A |
PIGOTT Corpus | B |
WATSON Pembroke | C |
HAWKINS Lady Margaret | D |
KINGLAKE rd Trinity | A |
BORTHWICK st Trinity | A |
STEAVENSON Trinity Hall | E |
SELWYN rd Trinity | A |
Steerer ARCHER Corpus | B |
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BEFORE THE RACE | F |
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Come list to me who wish to hear the glories of our crew | G |
I'll tell you all the names of those who wear the Cambridge Blue | G |
First HAWKSHAW comes a stalwart bow as tough as oak nay tougher | H |
Look at him ye who wish to see the Antipodes to duffer | H |
Swift as the Hawk in airy flight strong as the guardsman SHAW | I |
We men of mortal muscles must contemplate him with awe | J |
Though I dwell by Cam's slow river and I hope am not a bigot | K |
I think that Isis cannot boast a better man than PIGOTT | K |
Active and strong and steady and never known to shirk | L |
Of Corpus the quintessence he is always fit for work | L |
The men of Thames will be amazed when they see our Three so strong | M |
And doubt if such a mighty form to mortal mould belong | M |
What son is this they one and all will ask in awe and wonder | H |
The men of Cam will answer make A mighty son of thunder | H |
Next HAWKINS comes at number the sole surviving pet | N |
Of the patroness of rowing the Lady Margaret | D |
When they think of his broad shoulders and strong and sinewy arms | O |
Nor parents dear nor brothers stern need foster fond alarms | O |
O a tear of love maternal in Etona's eye will quiver | H |
When she sees her favourate KINGLAKE also monarch of the river | H |
Oh that I could honour fitly in this unassuming song | M |
That wondrous combination of steady long and strong | M |
Then comes a true blue mariner from the ever glorious First | P |
In the golden arms of Glory and the lap of Victory nurst | P |
Though blue may be his colours there are better oarsmen few | G |
And Oxford when it sees him will perhaps look still more blue | G |
Then comes the son of STEPHEN as solid as a wall | E |
We need not add who know his name that he hails from Trinity Hall | E |
Oh in the race when comes at last the struggle close and dire | Q |
May he have the wind and courage of his tutor and his sire | H |
May he think of all the glories of the ribbon black and white | P |
And add another jewel to the diadem so bright | P |
Then comes a name which Camus and Etona know full well | R |
A name that's always sure to win and ne'er will prove a sell | R |
O what joy will fill a Bishop's heart oft a far far distant shore | S |
When he sees our Stroke reviving the memories of yore | S |
Then old Cam will he revisit in fancy's fairy dream | T |
And rouse once more with sounding oar the slow and sluggish stream | T |
But who is this with voice so shrill so resolute and ready | P |
Who cries so oft too late too soon quicker forward Steady steady | P |
Why 'tis our young toxophilite our ARCHER bold and true | G |
The lightest and the tightest who has ever steered light blue | G |
O when he pulls the yielding string may he shoot both strong and straight | P |
And may the night be swift and sure of his mighty arrows eight | P |
May he add another victory to increase our Cambridge score | S |
May Father Thames again behold the light blue to the fore | S |
But ah the name of Victory falls feebly on my ear | U |
Forgive me 'tis not cowardice that bids me shed this tear | V |
I weep to think that three long years have looked on our defeat | P |
For three long years we ne'er have known the taste of triumph sweet | P |
O Father Cam O Father Thames O ye nymphs of Chiswick eyot | P |
O Triton O Poseidon Take some pity on our fate | P |
What's the use of resolution or of training or of science | W |
If anxious friends and relatives to our efforts bid defiance | W |
If they take our strongest heroes from the middle of the boat | P |
Lest exposure to the weather should result in a sore throat | P |
We've rowed our boat when wave on wave o'er ship and crew was dashing | X |
And little were we troubled by the steamers and the splashing | X |
O little do the light blues care when tempests round them gather | H |
We'll meet the raging of the skies but not an angry father | H |
For though our vessel sank our hearts were buoyant as a feather | H |
Since we knew that we had done our best in spite of wind and weather | H |
Then all ye Gods and Goddesses who rule o'er lake and river | H |
O wipe away the trembling tear which in mine eye doth quiver | H |
O wipe away the dire defeats that now we often suffer | H |
Let not the name of Cambridge blue be breathed with that of duffer | H |
O melt the hearts of governors for who can hope to thrive | Y |
If when we're just together they despoil us of our Five | Y |
And lastly when 'mid shouts and cheers and screams and deafening dins | W |
The two boats start upon their course | W |
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AFTER THE RACE | W |
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Dei mihi Oxford wins | W |
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Edward Woodley Bowling
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