The Borough. Letter Xviii: The Poor And Their Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABBCCDEFGHI HJJKKL MMNNOOPPMMQQRRSSTTUV R UWR WRRIXYYZZRRA2A2B2B2C 2C2HHD2D2SSRR RRRCCRRRRE2E2RRRRRRF 2F2G2G2CCRRH2H2I2J2B RRYYSSF K2K2K2WWBBRRG2G2F2F2 R XJ2 XJJFGRROXRRBBL2L2YYR RDEG2G2G2CCD2D2R E2E2RRRRH2H2RRRRRRRR RRRRRRHHM2M2RRN2N2RR RRR

DwellingsA
YES we've our Borough vices and I knowB
How far they spread how rapidly they growB
Yet think not virtue quits the busy placeC
Nor charity the virtues crown and graceC
'Our Poor how feed we ' To the most we giveD
A weekly dole and at their homes they liveE
Others together dwell but when they comeF
To the low roof they see a kind of homeG
A social people whom they've ever knownH
With their own thoughts and manners like theirI
-
ownH
At her old house her dress her air the sameJ
I see mine ancient Letter loving dameJ
'Learning my child ' said she 'shall fame commandK
Learning is better worth than house or landK
For houses perish lands are gone and spentL
In learning then excel for that's most excellent '-
'And what her learning ' 'Tis with awe to lookM
In every verse throughout one sacred bookM
From this her joy her hope her peace is soughtN
This she has learned and she is nobly taughtN
If aught of mine have gain'd the public earO
If RUTLAND deigns these humble Tales to hearO
If critics pardon what my friends approvedP
Can I mine ancient Widow pass unmovedP
Shall I not think what pains the matron tookM
When first I trembled o'er the gilded bookM
How she all patient both at eve and mornQ
Her needle pointed at the guarding hornQ
And how she soothed me when with study sadR
I labour'd on to reach the final zadR
Shall I not grateful still the dame surveyS
And ask the Muse the poet's debt to payS
Nor I alone who hold a trifler's penT
But half our bench of wealthy weighty menT
Who rule our Borough who enforce our lawsU
They own the matron as the leading causeV
And feel the pleasing debt and pay the justR
-
applauseU
To her own house is borne the week's supplyW
There she in credit lives there hopes in peace toR
-
dieW
With her a harmless Idiot we beholdR
Who hoards up silver shells for shining goldR
These he preserves with unremitted careI
To buy a seat and reign the Borough's mayorX
Alas who could th' ambitious changeling tellY
That what he sought our rulers dared to sellY
Near these a Sailor in that hut of thatchZ
A fish boat's cabin is its nearest matchZ
Dwells and the dungeon is to him a seatR
Large as he wishes in his view completeR
A lockless coffer and a lidless hutchA2
That hold his stores have room for twice as muchA2
His one spare shirt long glass and iron boxB2
Lie all in view no need has he for locksB2
Here he abides and as our strangers passC2
He shows the shipping he presents the glassC2
He makes unask'd their ports and business knownH
And kindly heard turns quickly to his ownH
Of noble captains heroes every oneD2
You might as soon have made the steeple runD2
And then his messmates if you're pleased to stayS
He'll one by one the gallant souls displayS
And as the story verges to an endR
He'll wind from deed to deed from friend toR
-
friendR
He'll speak of those long lost the brave of oldR
As princes gen'rous and as heroes boldR
Then will his feelings rise till you may traceC
Gloom like a cloud frown o'er his manly faceC
And then a tear or two which sting his prideR
These he will dash indignantly asideR
And splice his tale now take him from his cotR
And for some cleaner berth exchange his lotR
How will he all that cruel aid deploreE2
His heart will break and he will fight no moreE2
Here is the poor old Merchant he declinedR
And as they say is not in perfect mindR
In his poor house with one poor maiden friendR
Quiet he paces to his journey's endR
Rich in his youth he traded and he fail'dR
Again he tried again his fate prevail'dR
His spirits low and his exertions smallF2
He fell perforce he seem'd decreed to fallF2
Like the gay knight unapt to rise was heG2
But downward sank with sad alacrityG2
A borough place we gain'd him in disgraceC
For gross neglect he quickly lost the placeC
But still he kept a kind of sullen prideR
Striving his wants to hinder or to hideR
At length compell'd by very need in griefH2
He wrote a proud petition for reliefH2
'He did suppose a fall like his would proveI2
Of force to wake their sympathy and loveJ2
Would make them feel the changes all may knowB
And stir them up a due regard to show '-
His suit was granted to an ancient maidR
Relieved herself relief for him was paidR
Here they together meet companions dwellY
And dismal tales of man's misfortunes tellY
''Twas not a world for them God help them theyS
Could not deceive nor flatter nor betrayS
But there's a happy change a scene to comeF
And they God help them shall be soon at home '-
If these no pleasures nor enjoyments gainK2
Still none their spirits nor their speech restrainK2
They sigh at ease 'mid comforts they complainK2
The poor will grieve the poor will weep and sighW
Both when they know and when they know not whyW
But we our bounty with such care bestowB
That cause for grieving they shall seldom knowB
Your Plan I love not with a number youR
Have placed your poor your pitiable fewR
There in one house throughout their lives to beG2
The pauper palace which they hate to seeG2
That giant building that high bounding wallF2
Those bare worn walks that lofty thund'ring hallF2
That large loud clock which tolls each dreadedR
-
hourX
Those gates and locks and all those signs ofJ2
-
powerX
It is a prison with a milder nameJ
Which few inhabit without dread or shameJ
Be it agreed the Poor who hither comeF
Partake of plenty seldom found at homeG
That airy rooms and decent beds are meantR
To give the poor by day by night contentR
That none are frighten'd once admitted hereO
By the stern looks of lordly OverseerX
Grant that the Guardians of the place attendR
And ready ear to each petition lendR
That they desire the grieving poor to showB
What ills they feel what partial acts they knowB
Not without promise nay desire to healL2
Each wrong they suffer and each woe they feelL2
Alas their sorrows in their bosoms dwellY
They've much to suffer but have nought to tellY
They have no evil in the place to stateR
And dare not say it is the house they hateR
They own there's granted all such place can giveD
But live repining for 'tis there they liveE
Grandsires are there who now no more must seeG2
No more must nurse upon the trembling kneeG2
The lost loved daughter's infant progenyG2
Like death's dread mansion this allows not placeC
For joyful meetings of a kindred raceC
Is not the matron there to whom the sonD2
Was wont at each declining day to runD2
He when his toil was over gave delightR
By lifting up the latch and one 'Good night '-
Yes she is here but nightly to her doorE2
The son still lab'ring can return no moreE2
Widows are here who in their huts were leftR
Of husbands children plenty ease bereftR
Yet all that grief within the humble shedR
Was soften'd softened in the humble bedR
But here in all its force remains the griefH2
And not one softening object for reliefH2
Who can when here the social neighbour meetR
Who learn the story current in the streetR
Who to the long known intimate impartR
Facts they have learn'd or feelings of the heartR
They talk indeed but who can choose a friendR
Or seek companions at their journey's endR
Here are not those whom they when infants knewR
Who with like fortune up to manhood grewR
Who with like troubles at old age arrivedR
Who like themselves the joy of life survivedR
Whom time and custom so familiar madeR
That looks the meaning in the mind convey'dR
But here to strangers words nor looks impartR
The various movements of the suffering heartR
Nor will that heart with those alliance ownH
To whom its views and hopes are all unknownH
What if no grievous fears their lives annoyM2
Is it not worse no prospects to enjoyM2
'Tis cheerless living in such bounded viewR
With nothing dreadful but with nothing newR
Nothing to bring them joy to make them weepN2
The day itself is like the night asleepN2
Or on the sameness if a break be madeR
'Tis by some pauper to his grave convey'dR
By smuggled news from neighb'ring village toldR
News never true or truth a twelvemonth oldR
By some newR

George Crabbe



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