The Hospitable Caledonian And The Thankless Viper Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD AEAEFG G HIHIFJFJ KLKLMNMN AOAOPFQF| A Caledonian piper | A |
| Who was walking on the wold | B |
| Nearly stepped upon a viper | A |
| Rendered torpid by the cold | B |
| By the sight of her admonished | C |
| He forbore to plant his boot | D |
| But he showed he was astonished | C |
| By the way he muttered Hoot | D |
| - | |
| Now this simple minded piper | A |
| Such a kindly nature had | E |
| That he lifted up the viper | A |
| And bestowed her in his plaid | E |
| Though the Scot is stern at least he | F |
| No unhappy creature spurns | G |
| 'Sleekit cowrin tim'rous beastie ' | - |
| Quoth the piper quoting Burns | G |
| - | |
| This was unaffected kindness | H |
| But there was to state the fact | I |
| Just a slight soupcon of blindness | H |
| In his charitable act | I |
| If you'd watched the piper shortly | F |
| You'd have seen him leap aloft | J |
| As this snake of ways uncourtly | F |
| Bit him suddenly and oft | J |
| - | |
| There was really no excuse for | K |
| This the viper's cruel work | L |
| And the piper found a use for | K |
| Words he'd never learned at kirk | L |
| But the biting was so thorough | M |
| That although the doctors tried | N |
| Not the best in Edinburgh | M |
| Could assist him and he died | N |
| - | |
| And THE MORAL is The piper | A |
| Of the matter made a botch | O |
| One can hardly blame the viper | A |
| If she took a nip of Scotch | O |
| For she only did what he did | P |
| And his nippie wasn't small | F |
| Otherwise you see he needed | Q |
| Not have seen the snake at all | F |
Guy Wetmore Carryl
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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