The Bottle And The Bird Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCD EEFFG HHIICC GGJJKK IILLCC MMFFNN OOPPFF GGFFCC| Once on a time a friend of mine prevailed on me to go | A |
| To see the dazzling splendors of a sinful ballet show | A |
| And after we had reveled in the saltatory sights | B |
| We sought a neighboring cafe for more tangible delights | B |
| When I demanded of my friend what viands he preferred | C |
| He quoth 'A large cold bottle and a small hot bird ' | D |
| - | |
| Fool that I was I did not know what anguish hidden lies | E |
| Within the morceau that allures the nostrils and the eyes | E |
| There is a glorious candor in an honest quart of wine | F |
| A certain inspiration which I cannot well define | F |
| How it bubbles how it sparkles how its gurgling seems to say | G |
| 'Come on a tide of rapture let me float your soul away ' | - |
| - | |
| But the crispy steaming mouthful that is spread upon your plate | H |
| How it discounts human sapience and satirizes fate | H |
| You wouldn't think a thing so small could cause the pains and aches | I |
| That certainly accrue to him that of that thing partakes | I |
| To me at least a guileless wight it never once occurred | C |
| What horror was encompassed in that one small hot bird | C |
| - | |
| Oh what a head I had on me when I awoke next day | G |
| And what a firm conviction of intestinal decay | G |
| What seas of mineral water and of bromide I applied | J |
| To quench those fierce volcanic fires that rioted inside | J |
| And oh the thousand solemn awful vows I plighted then | K |
| Never to tax my system with a small hot bird again | K |
| - | |
| The doctor seemed to doubt that birds could worry people so | I |
| But bless him since I ate the bird I guess I ought to know | I |
| The acidous condition of my stomach so he said | L |
| Bespoke a vinous irritant that amplified my head | L |
| And ergo the causation of the thing as he inferred | C |
| Was the large cold bottle not the small hot bird | C |
| - | |
| Of course I know it wasn't and I'm sure you'll say I'm right | M |
| If ever it has been your wont to train around at night | M |
| How sweet is retrospection when one's heart is bathed in wine | F |
| And before its balmy breath how do the ills of life decline | F |
| How the gracious juices drown what griefs would vex a mortal breast | N |
| And float the flattered soul into the port of dreamless rest | N |
| - | |
| But you O noxious pigmy bird whether it be you fly | O |
| Or paddle in the stagnant pools that sweltering festering lie | O |
| I curse you and your evil kind for that you do me wrong | P |
| Engendering poisons that corrupt my petted muse of song | P |
| Go get thee hence and nevermore discomfit me and mine | F |
| I fain would barter all thy brood for one sweet draught of wine | F |
| - | |
| So hither come O sportive youth when fades the tell tale day | G |
| Come hither with your fillets and your wreathes of posies gay | G |
| We shall unloose the fragrant seas of seething frothing wine | F |
| Which now the cobwebbed glass and envious wire and corks confine | F |
| And midst the pleasing revelry the praises shall be heard | C |
| Of the large cold bottle not the small hot bird | C |
Eugene Field
(1)
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