The Borough. Letter I Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHIJJKL MMNNOPQQFFRRSSTTMMUU PPBBVVWWSSXXSYMMZZEE A2B2YYC2C2YSD2D2E2E2 F2F2BBG2G2H2H2MMI2I2 SSJ2J2SSSSK2K2L2L2I2 I2M2M2N2N2RRC2C2SSBB O2O2P2P2D2D2SSQQQ2Q2 R2R2S2S2FFC2C2T2T2N2 U2SSS2S2T2T2V2V2SSRR BBW2W2CCX2X2FL2Y2Y2Z 2Z2A3A3SSB3B3T2T2RRS 2S2BBC3S

'DESCRIBE the Borough' though our idle tribeA
May love description can we so describeA
That you shall fairly streets and buildings traceB
And all that gives distinction to a placeB
This cannot be yet moved by your requestC
A part I paint let Fancy form the restC
Cities and towns the various haunts of menD
Require the pencil they defy the penD
Could he who sang so well the Grecian fleetE
So well have sung of alley lane or streetE
Can measured lines these various buildings showF
The Town Hall Turning or the Prospect RowF
Can I the seats of wealth and want exploreG
And lengthen out my lays from door to doorG
Then let thy Fancy aid me I repairH
From this tall mansion of our last year's MayorI
Till we the outskirts of the Borough reachJ
And these half buried buildings next the beachJ
Where hang at open doors the net and corkK
While squalid sea dames mend the meshy workL
Till comes the hour when fishing through the tideM
The weary husband throws his freight asideM
A living mass which now demands the wifeN
Th' alternate labours of their humble lifeN
Can scenes like these withdraw thee from thy woodO
Thy upland forest or thy valley's floodP
Seek then thy garden's shrubby bound and lookQ
As it steals by upon the bordering brookQ
That winding streamlet limpid lingering slowF
Where the reeds whisper when the zephyrs blowF
Where in the midst upon a throne of greenR
Sits the large Lily as the water's queenR
And makes the current forced awhile to stayS
Murmur and bubble as it shoots awayS
Draw then the strongest contrast to that streamT
And our broad river will before thee seemT
With ceaseless motion comes and goes the tideM
Flowing it fills the channel vast and wideM
Then back to sea with strong majestic sweepU
It rolls in ebb yet terrible and deepU
Here Samphire banks and Saltwort bound the floodP
There stakes and sea weeds withering on the mudP
And higher up a ridge of all things baseB
Which some strong tide has roll'd upon the placeB
Thy gentle river boasts its pigmy boatV
Urged on by pains half grounded half afloatV
While at her stern an angler takes his standW
And marks the fish he purposes to landW
From that clear space where in the cheerful rayS
Of the warm sun the scaly people playS
Far other craft our prouder river showsX
Hoys pinks and sloops brigs brigantines and snowsX
Nor angler we on our wide stream descryS
But one poor dredger where his oysters lieY
He cold and wet and driving with the tideM
Beats his weak arms against his tarry sideM
Then drains the remnant of diluted ginZ
To aid the warmth that languishes withinZ
Renewing oft his poor attempts to beatE
His tingling fingers into gathering heatE
He shall again be seen when evening comesA2
And social parties crowd their favourite roomsB2
Where on the table pipes and papers lieY
The steaming bowl or foaming tankard byY
'Tis then with all these comforts spread aroundC2
They hear the painful dredger's welcome soundC2
And few themselves the savoury boon denyY
The food that feeds the living luxuryS
Yon is our Quay those smaller hoys from townD2
Its various ware for country use bring downD2
Those laden waggons in return impartE2
The country produce to the city martE2
Hark to the clamour in that miry roadF2
Bounded and narrow'd by yon vessel's loadF2
The lumbering wealth she empties round the placeB
Package and parcel hogshead chest and caseB
While the loud seaman and the angry hindG2
Mingling in business bellow to the windG2
Near these a crew amphibious in the docksH2
Rear for the sea those castles on the stocksH2
See the long keel which soon the waves must hideM
See the strong ribs which form the roomy sideM
Bolts yielding slowly to the sturdiest strokeI2
And planks which curve and crackle in the smokeI2
Around the whole rise cloudy wreaths and farS
Bear the warm pungence of o'er boiling tarS
Dabbling on shore half naked sea boys crowdJ2
Swim round a ship or swing upon the shroudJ2
Or in a boat purloin'd with paddles playS
And grow familiar with the watery wayS
Young though they be they feel whose sons they areS
They know what British seamen do and dareS
Proud of that fame they raise and they enjoyK2
The rustic wonder of the village boyK2
Before you bid these busy scenes adieuL2
Behold the wealth that lies in public viewL2
Those far extended heaps of coal and cokeI2
Where fresh fill'd lime kilns breathe their stifling smokeI2
This shall pass off and you behold insteadM2
The night fire gleaming on its chalky bedM2
When from the Lighthouse brighter beams will riseN2
To show the shipman where the shallow liesN2
Thy walks are ever pleasant every sceneR
Is rich in beauty lively or sereneR
Rich is that varied view with woods aroundC2
Seen from the seat within the shrubb'ry boundC2
Where shines the distant lake and where appearS
From ruins bolting unmolested deerS
Lively the village green the inn the placeB
Where the good widow schools her infant raceB
Shops whence are heard the hammer and the sawO2
And village pleasures unreproved by lawO2
Then how serene when in your favourite roomP2
Gales from your jasmines soothe the evening gloomP2
When from your upland paddock you look downD2
And just perceive the smoke which hides the townD2
When weary peasants at the close of dayS
Walk to their cots and part upon the wayS
When cattle slowly cross the shallow brookQ
And shepherds pen their folds and rest upon their crookQ
We prune our hedges prime our slender treesQ2
And nothing looks untutor'd and at easeQ2
On the wide heath or in the flowery valeR2
We scent the vapours of the sea born galeR2
Broad beaten paths lead on from stile to stileS2
And sewers from streets the road side banks defileS2
Our guarded fields a sense of danger showF
Where garden crops with corn and clover growF
Fences are form'd of wreck and placed aroundC2
With tenters tipp'd a strong repulsive boundC2
Wide and deep ditches by the gardens runT2
And there in ambush lie the trap and gunT2
Or yon broad board which guards each tempting prizeN2
'Like a tall bully lifts its head and lies 'U2
There stands a cottage with an open doorS
Its garden undefended blooms beforeS
Her wheel is still and overturn'd her stoolS2
While the lone Widow seeks the neighb'ring poolS2
This gives us hope all views of town to shunT2
No here are tokens of the Sailor sonT2
That old blue jacket and that shirt of checkV2
And silken kerchief for the seaman's neckV2
Sea spoils and shells from many a distant shoreS
And furry robe from frozen LabradorS
Our busy streets and sylvan walks betweenR
Fen marshes bog and heath all interveneR
Here pits of crag with spongy plashy baseB
To some enrich th' uncultivated spaceB
For there are blossoms rare and curious rushW2
The gale's rich balm and sun dew's crimson blushW2
Whose velvet leaf with radiant beauty dress'dC
Forms a gay pillow for the plover's breastC
Not distant far a house commodious madeX2
Lonely yet public stands for Sunday tradeX2
Thither for this day free gay parties goF
Their tea house walk their tippling rendezvousL2
There humble couples sit in corner bowersY2
Or gaily ramble for th' allotted hoursY2
Sailors and lasses from the town attendZ2
The servant lover the apprentice friendZ2
With all the idle social tribes who seekA3
And find their humble pleasures once a weekA3
Turn to the watery world but who to theeS
A wonder yet unview'd shall paint the SeaS
Various and vast sublime in all its formsB3
When lull'd by zephyrs or when roused by stormsB3
Its colours changing when from clouds and sunT2
Shades after shades upon the surface runT2
Embrown'd and horrid now and now sereneR
In limpid blue and evanescent greenR
And oft the foggy banks on ocean lieS2
Lift the fair sail and cheat th' experienced eyeS2
Be it the summer noon a sandy spaceB
The ebbing tide has left upon its placeB
Then just the hot and stony beach aboveC3
Light twinkling streS

George Crabbe



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