The Urban Rat And The Suburban Rat Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCCB AAAADDA DEDEAAE FGFGDDG HIHIBBI IJIJIIJ CKCKDDL MNMNDDN| A metropolitan rat invited | A |
| His country cousin in town to dine | B |
| The country cousin replied Delighted | A |
| And signed himself Sincerely thine | B |
| The town rat treated the country cousin | C |
| To half a dozen | C |
| Kinds of wine | B |
| - | |
| He served him terrapin kidneys devilled | A |
| And roasted partridge and candied fruit | A |
| In Little Neck Clams at first they revelled | A |
| And then in Pommery sec and brut | A |
| The country cousin exclaimed Such feeding | D |
| Proclaims your breeding | D |
| Beyond dispute | A |
| - | |
| But just as another bottle broaching | D |
| They came to chicken en casserole | E |
| A ravenous cat was heard approaching | D |
| And passing his guest a finger bowl | E |
| The town rat murmured The feast is ended | A |
| And then descended | A |
| The nearest hole | E |
| - | |
| His cousin followed him helter skelter | F |
| And pausing beneath the pantry floor | G |
| He glanced around at their dusty shelter | F |
| And muttered This is a beastly bore | G |
| My place as an epicure resigning | D |
| I'll try this dining | D |
| In town no more | G |
| - | |
| You must dine some night at my rustic cottage | H |
| I'll warn you now that it's simple fare | I |
| A radish or two a bowl of pottage | H |
| And the wine that's known as ordinaire | I |
| But for holes I haven't to make a bee line | B |
| No prowling feline | B |
| Molests me there | I |
| - | |
| You smile at the lot of a mere commuter | I |
| You think that my life is hard mayhap | J |
| But I'm sure than you I am far acuter | I |
| I ain't afraid of no cat nor trap | J |
| The city rat could but meekly stammer | I |
| Don't use such grammar | I |
| My worthy chap | J |
| - | |
| He dined next night with his poor relation | C |
| And caught dyspepsia and lost his train | K |
| He waited an hour in the lonely station | C |
| And said some things that were quite profane | K |
| I'll never he cried in tones complaining | D |
| Try entertaining | D |
| That rat again | L |
| - | |
| It's easy to make a memorandum | M |
| About THE MORAL these verses teach | N |
| De gustibus non est dispuiandum | M |
| The meaning of which Etruscan speech | N |
| Is wheresoever you're hunger quelling | D |
| Pray keep your dwelling | D |
| In easy reach | N |
Guy Wetmore Carryl
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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