The Fire At Ross's Farm Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDEFE GHIHJKLK MNONBPQR STUTVWAG XYZYAA2B2A2 C2D2E2D2E2F2G2F2 H2I2J2K2L2M2N2O2 P2AQ2AE2QE2 R2E2S2 T2BE2B T2U2V2 AE2T2E2 W2X2Y2X2MWUG Z2A3E2JB3GE2 C3D3E3D3A EF3 B3X2G3X2AL2U2L2 H3QC2QI3J3K3J3

The squatter saw his pastures wideA
Decrease as one by oneB
The farmers moving to the westC
Selected on his runB
Selectors took the water upD
And all the black soil roundE
The best grass land the squatter hadF
Was spoilt by Ross's GroundE
-
Now many schemes to shift old RossG
Had racked the squatter's brainsH
But Sandy had the stubborn bloodI
Of Scotland in his veinsH
He held the land and fenced it inJ
He cleared and ploughed the soilK
And year by year a richer cropL
Repaid him for his toilK
-
Between the homes for many yearsM
The devil left his tracksN
The squatter pounded Ross's stockO
And Sandy pounded Black'sN
A well upon the lower runB
Was filled with earth and logsP
And Black laid baits about the farmQ
To poison Ross's dogsR
-
It was indeed a deadly feudS
Of class and creed and raceT
But yet there was a RomeoU
And a Juliet in the caseT
And more than once across the flatsV
Beneath the Southern CrossW
Young Robert Black was seen to rideA
With pretty Jenny RossG
-
One Christmas time when months of droughtX
Had parched the western creeksY
The bush fires started in the northZ
And travelled south for weeksY
At night along the river sideA
The scene was grand and strangeA2
The hill fires looked like lighted streetsB2
Of cities in the rangeA2
-
The cattle tracks between the treesC2
Were like long dusky aislesD2
And on a sudden breeze the fireE2
Would sweep along for milesD2
Like sounds of distant musketryE2
It crackled through the brakesF2
And o'er the flat of silver grassG2
It hissed like angry snakesF2
-
It leapt across the flowing streamsH2
And raced o'er pastures broadI2
It climbed the trees and lit the boughsJ2
And through the scrubs it roaredK2
The bees fell stifled in the smokeL2
Or perished in their hivesM2
And with the stock the kangaroosN2
Went flying for their livesO2
-
The sun had set on Christmas EveP2
When through the scrub lands wideA
Young Robert Black came riding homeQ2
As only natives rideA
He galloped to the homestead doorE2
And gave the first alarmQ
The fire is past the granite spurE2
And close to Ross's farm '-
-
Now father send the men at onceR2
They won't be wanted hereE2
Poor Ross's wheat is all he hasS2
To pull him through the year '-
Then let it burn ' the squatter saidT2
I'd like to see it doneB
I'd bless the fire if it would clearE2
Selectors from the runB
-
Go if you will ' the squatter saidT2
You shall not take the menU2
Go out and join your precious friendsV2
And don't come here again '-
I won't come back ' young Robert criedA
And reckless in his ireE2
He sharply turned his horse's headT2
And galloped towards the fireE2
-
And there for three long weary hoursW2
Half blind with smoke and heatX2
Old Ross and Robert fought the flamesY2
That neared the ripened wheatX2
The farmer's hand was nerved by fearsM
Of danger and of lossW
And Robert fought the stubborn foeU
For the love of Jenny RossG
-
But serpent like the curves and linesZ2
Slipped past them and betweenA3
Until they reached the bound'ry whereE2
The old coach road had beenJ
The track is now our only hopeB3
There we must stand ' cried RossG
For nought on earth can stop the fireE2
If once it gets across '-
-
Then came a cruel gust of windC3
And with a fiendish rushD3
The flames leapt o'er the narrow pathE3
And lit the fence of brushD3
The crop must burn ' the farmer criedA
We cannot save it now '-
And down upon the blackened groundE
He dashed the ragged boughF3
-
But wildly in a rush of hopeB3
His heart began to beatX2
For o'er the crackling fire he heardG3
The sound of horses' feetX2
Here's help at last ' young Robert criedA
And even as he spokeL2
The squatter with a dozen menU2
Came racing through the smokeL2
-
Down on the ground the stockmen jumpedH3
And bared each brawny armQ
They tore green branches from the treesC2
And fought for Ross's farmQ
And when before the gallant bandI3
The beaten flames gave wayJ3
Two grimy hands in friendship joinedK3
And it was Christmas DayJ3

Henry Lawson



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