To W. Hohenzollern, On Discontinuing The Conning Tower Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCDEFFF FFFF FBFB GDGD FHFH IDID JKJK LHLH| William it was I think three years ago | A |
| As I recall one cool October morning | B |
| You have The Tribune files I think they'll show | A |
| I gave you warning | B |
| - | |
| I said in well selected words and terse | C |
| In phrases balanced yet replete with power | D |
| That I should cease to pen the prose and verse | C |
| Known as The Tower | D |
| That I should stop this Labyrinth of Light | E |
| Though stopping make the planet leaden hearted | F |
| Unless you stop the well known Schrecklichkeit | F |
| Your nation started | F |
| - | |
| I printed it in type that you could read | F |
| My paragraphs were thewed my rhymes were sinewed | F |
| You paid I judge from what ensued no heed | F |
| The war continued | F |
| - | |
| And though my lines with fortitude were fraught | F |
| Although my words were strong and stripped of stuffing | B |
| You William thought oh yes you did you thought | F |
| That I was bluffing | B |
| - | |
| You thought that I would fail to see it through | G |
| You thought that at the crux of things I'd cower | D |
| How little how imperfectly you knew | G |
| The Conning Tower | D |
| - | |
| You'll miss the column at the break of day | F |
| I have no fear that I shall be forgotten | H |
| You'll miss the daily privilege to say | F |
| That stuff is rotten | H |
| - | |
| Or else as sometimes has occured when I | I |
| Have chanced upon a lucky line to blunder | D |
| You'll miss the precious privilege to cry | I |
| That bird's a wonder | D |
| - | |
| Well William when your people cease to strafe | J |
| When you have put an end to all this war stuff | K |
| When all the world is reasonably safe | J |
| I'll write some more stuff | K |
| - | |
| And when you miss the quip and wanton wile | L |
| And learn you can't endure the Towerless season | H |
| O William I shall not be petty I'll | L |
| Listen to reason | H |
Franklin Pierce Adams
(1)
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