Ashes On The Slide Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF GGHHF IIBBF JJKKFF LLAAFF| When Jim and Bill and I were boys a many years ago | A |
| How gayly did we use to hail the coming of the snow | A |
| Our sleds fresh painted red and with their runners round and bright | B |
| Seemed to respond right briskly to our clamor of delight | B |
| As we dragged them up the slippery road that climbed the rugged hill | C |
| Where perched the old frame meetin' house so solemn like and still | C |
| - | |
| Ah coasting in those days those good old days was fun indeed | D |
| Sleds at that time I 'd have you know were paragons of speed | D |
| And if the hill got bare in spots as hills will do why then | E |
| We 'd haul on ice and snow to patch those bald spots up again | E |
| But oh with what sad certainty our spirits would subside | F |
| When Deacon Frisbee sprinkled ashes where we used to slide | F |
| - | |
| The deacon he would roll his eyes and gnash his toothless gums | G |
| And clear his skinny throat and twirl his saintly bony thumbs | G |
| And tell you 'When I wuz a boy they taught me to eschew | H |
| The godless ribald vanities which modern youth pursue | H |
| The pathway that leads down to hell is slippery straight and wide | F |
| And Satan lurks for prey where little boys are wont to slide ' | - |
| - | |
| Now he who ever in his life has been a little boy | I |
| Will not reprove me when he hears the language I employ | I |
| To stigmatize as wickedness the deacon's zealous spite | B |
| In interfering with the play wherein we found delight | B |
| And so I say with confidence not unalloyed of pride | F |
| 'Gol durn the man who sprinkles ashes where the youngsters slide ' | - |
| - | |
| But Deacon Frisbee long ago went to his lasting rest | J |
| His money well invested in farm mortgages out West | J |
| Bill Jim and I no longer boys have learned through years of strife | K |
| That the troubles of the little boy pursue the man through life | K |
| That here and there along the course wherein we hoped to glide | F |
| Some envious hand has sprinkled ashes just to spoil our slide | F |
| - | |
| And that malicious envious hand is not the deacon's now | L |
| Grim ruthless Fate that evil sprite none other is than thou | L |
| Riches and honors peace and care come at thy beck and go | A |
| The soul elate with joy to day to morrow writhes in woe | A |
| And till a man has turned his face unto the wall and died | F |
| He must expect to get his share of ashes on his slide | F |
Eugene Field
(1)
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