Sister's Cake Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF GGHHCC IIJJKK LLIIMM HHJJCC NNDDOO PPQQHH PPRRCC| I'd not complain of Sister Jane for she was good and kind | A |
| Combining with rare comeliness distinctive gifts of mind | A |
| Nay I'll admit it were most fit that worn by social cares | B |
| She'd crave a change from parlor life to that below the stairs | B |
| And that eschewing needlework and music she should take | C |
| Herself to the substantial art of manufacturing cake | C |
| - | |
| At breakfast then it would befall that Sister Jane would say | D |
| Mother if you have got the things I'll make some cake to day | D |
| Poor mother'd cast a timid glance at father like as not | E |
| For father hinted sister's cooking cost a frightful lot | E |
| But neither she nor he presumed to signify dissent | F |
| Accepting it for gospel truth that what she wanted went | F |
| - | |
| No matter what the rest of 'em might chance to have in hand | G |
| The whole machinery of the house came to a sudden stand | G |
| The pots were hustled off the stove the fire built up anew | H |
| With every damper set just so to heat the oven through | H |
| The kitchen table was relieved of everything to make | C |
| That ample space which Jane required when she compounded cake | C |
| - | |
| And oh the bustling here and there the flying to and fro | I |
| The click of forks that whipped the eggs to lather white as snow | I |
| And what a wealth of sugar melted swiftly out of sight | J |
| And butter Mother said such waste would ruin father quite | J |
| But Sister Jane preserved a mien no pleading could confound | K |
| As she utilized the raisins and the citron by the pound | K |
| - | |
| Oh hours of chaos tumult heat vexatious din and whirl | L |
| Of deep humiliation for the sullen hired girl | L |
| Of grief for mother hating to see things wasted so | I |
| And of fortune for that little boy who pined to taste that dough | I |
| It looked so sweet and yellow sure to taste it were no sin | M |
| But oh how sister scolded if he stuck his finger in | M |
| - | |
| The chances were as ten to one before the job was through | H |
| That sister'd think of something else she'd great deal rather do | H |
| So then she'd softly steal away as Arabs in the night | J |
| Leaving the girl and ma to finish up as best they might | J |
| These tactics artful Sister Jane enabled her to take | C |
| Or shift the credit or the blame of that too treacherous cake | C |
| - | |
| And yet unhappy is the man who has no Sister Jane | N |
| For he who has no sister seems to me to live in vain | N |
| I never had a sister may be that is why today | D |
| I'm wizened and dyspeptic instead of blithe and gay | D |
| A boy who's only forty should be full of romp and mirth | O |
| But I because I'm sisterless am the oldest man on earth | O |
| - | |
| Had I a little sister oh how happy I should be | P |
| I'd never let her cast her eyes on any chap but me | P |
| I'd love her and I'd cherish her for better and for worse | Q |
| I'd buy her gowns and bonnets and sing her praise in verse | Q |
| And yes what's more and vastly more I tell you what I'd do | H |
| I'd let her make her wondrous cake and I would eat it too | H |
| - | |
| I have a high opinion of the sisters as you see | P |
| Another fellow's sister is so very dear to me | P |
| I love to work anear her when she's making over frocks | R |
| When she patches little trousers or darns prosaic socks | R |
| But I draw the line at one thing yes I don my hat and take | C |
| A three hours' walk when she is moved to try her hand at cake | C |
Eugene Field
(1)
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