The Quarter-gunner's Yarn Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH IIJJ KKLL MMNN OOPP QQRR SSTT UUVV WWXX PPYY ZZA2A2 OOB2B2

We lay at St Helen's and easy she rodeA
With one anchor catted and fresh water stowedA
When the barge came alongside like bullocks we roaredB
For we knew what we carried with Nelson aboardB
-
Our Captain was Hardy the pride of us allC
I'll ask for none better when danger shall callC
He was hardy by nature and Hardy by nameD
And soon by his conduct to honour he cameD
-
The third day the Lizard was under our leeE
Where the Ajax and Thunderer joined us at seaE
But what with foul weather and tacking aboutF
When we sighted the Fleet we were thirteen days outF
-
The Captains they all came aboard quick enoughG
But the news that they brought was as heavy as duffG
So backward an enemy never was seenH
They were harder to come at than Cheeks the MarineH
-
The lubbers had hare's lugs where seamen have earsI
So we stowed all saluting and smothered our cheersI
And to humour their stomachs and tempt them to dineJ
In the offing we showed them but six of the lineJ
-
One morning the topmen reported belowK
The old Agamemnon escaped from the foeK
Says Nelson My lads there'll be honour for someL
For we're sure of a battle now Berry has comeL
-
Up hammocks at last cried the bo'sun at dawnM
The guns were cast loose and the tompions drawnM
The gunner was bustling the shot racks to fillN
And All hands to quarters was piped with a willN
-
We now saw the enemy bearing aheadO
And to East of them Cape Traflagar it was saidO
'Tis a name we remember from father to sonP
That the days of old England may never be doneP
-
The Victory led to her flag it was dueQ
Tho' the Temeraires thought themselves Admirals tooQ
But Lord Nelson he hailed them with masterful graceR
Cap'n Harvey I'll thank you to keep in your placeR
-
To begin with we closed the Bucentaure aloneS
An eighty gun ship and their Admiral's ownS
We raked her but once and the rest of the dayT
Like a hospital hulk on the water she layT
-
To our battering next the Redoutable struckU
But her sharpshooters gave us the worst of the luckU
Lord Nelson was wounded most cruel to tellV
They've done for me Hardy he cried as he fellV
-
To the cockpit in silence they carried him pastW
And sad were the looks that were after him castW
His face with a kerchief he tried to concealX
But we knew him too well from the truck to the keelX
-
When the Captain reported a victory wonP
Thank God he kept saying my duty I've doneP
At last came the moment to kiss him good byeY
And the Captain for once had the salt in his eyeY
-
Now anchor dear Hardy the Admiral criedZ
But before we could make it he fainted and diedZ
All night in the trough of the sea we were tossedA2
And for want of ground tackle good prizes were lostA2
-
Then we hauled down the flag at the fore it was redO
And blue at the mizzen was hoisted insteadO
By Nelson's famed Captain the pride of each tarB2
Who fought in the Victory off Cape TraflagarB2

Henry Newbolt



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