Cameron's Heart Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBBB AACDDBB EBBBBFF GGHHBB I JKJCL BMMNNBB AABBBB| The diggings were just in their glory when Alister Cameron came | A |
| With recommendations he told me from friends and a parson at hame' | A |
| He read me his recommendations he called them a part of his plant | B |
| The first one was signed by an Elder the other by Cameron's aunt | B |
| The meenister called him ungodly a stray frae the fauld o' the Lord' | B |
| And his aunt set him down as a spendthrift a rebel at hame and abroad' | B |
| - | |
| He got drunk now and then and he gambled such heroes are often the same | A |
| That's all they could say in connection with Alister Cameron's name | A |
| He was straight and he stuck to his country | C |
| and spoke with respect of his kirk | D |
| He did his full share of the cooking and more than his share of the work | D |
| And many a poor devil then when his strength and his money were spent | B |
| Was sure of a lecture and tucker and a shakedown in Cameron's tent | B |
| - | |
| He shunned all the girls in the camp | E |
| and they said he was proof to the dart | B |
| That nothing but whisky and gaming had ever a place in his heart | B |
| He carried a packet about him well hid but I saw it at last | B |
| And well 'tis a very old story the story of Cameron's past | B |
| A ring and a sprig o' white heather a letter or two and a curl | F |
| A bit of a worn silver chain and the portrait of Cameron's girl | F |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| It chanced in the first of the Sixties that Ally and I and McKean | G |
| Were sinking a shaft on Mundoorin near Fosberry's puddle machine | G |
| The bucket we used was a big one and rather a weight when 'twas full | H |
| Though Alister wound it up easy for he had the strength of a bull | H |
| He hinted at heart disease often but setting his fancy apart | B |
| I always believed there was nothing the matter with Cameron's heart | B |
| - | |
| One day I was working below I was filling the bucket with clay | I |
| When Alister cried Pack it on mon we ought to be bottomed to day ' | - |
| He wound and the bucket rose steady and swift to the surface until | J |
| It reached the first log on the top | K |
| where it suddenly stopped and hung still | J |
| I knew what was up in a moment when Cameron shouted to me | C |
| Climb up for your life by the footholes | L |
| I'LL STICK TAE TH' HAUN'LE OR DEE ' | - |
| - | |
| And those were the last words he uttered | B |
| He groaned for I heard him quite plain | M |
| There's nothing so awful as that when it's wrung from a workman in pain | M |
| The strength of despair was upon me I started and scarcely drew breath | N |
| But climbed to the top for my life in the fear of a terrible death | N |
| And there with his waist on the handle I saw the dead form of my mate | B |
| And over the shaft hung the bucket suspended by Cameron's weight | B |
| - | |
| I wonder did Alister think of the scenes in the distance so dim | A |
| When Death at the windlass that morning took cruel advantage of him | A |
| He knew if the bucket rushed down it would murder or cripple his mate | B |
| His hand on the iron was closed with a grip that was stronger than Fate | B |
| He thought of my danger not his when he felt in his bosom the smart | B |
| And stuck to the handle in spite of the Finger of Death on his heart | B |
Henry Lawson
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