To A Captive Owl Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAC DEDE FGFG FHFH FFFF IJIJ KLKL FFFF| I should be dumb before thee feathered sage | A |
| And gaze upon thy phiz with solemn awe | B |
| But for a most audacious wish to gauge | A |
| The hoarded wisdom of thy learned craw | C |
| - | |
| Art thou grave bird so wondrous wise indeed | D |
| Speak freely without fear of jest or gibe | E |
| What is thy moral and religious creed | D |
| And what the metaphysics of thy tribe | E |
| - | |
| A Poet curious in birds and brutes | F |
| I do not question thee in idle play | G |
| What is thy station What are thy pursuits | F |
| Doubtless thou hast thy pleasures what are THEY | G |
| - | |
| Or is 't thy wont to muse and mouse at once | F |
| Entice thy prey with airs of meditation | H |
| And with the unvarying habits of a dunce | F |
| To dine in solemn depths of contemplation | H |
| - | |
| There may be much the world at least says so | F |
| Behind that ponderous brow and thoughtful gaze | F |
| Yet such a great philosopher should know | F |
| It is by no means wise to think always | F |
| - | |
| And Bird despite thy meditative air | I |
| I hold thy stock of wit but paltry pelf | J |
| Thou show'st that same grave aspect everywhere | I |
| And wouldst look thoughtful stuffed upon a shelf | J |
| - | |
| I grieve to be so plain renowned Bird | K |
| Thy fame 's a flam and thou an empty fowl | L |
| And what is more upon a Poet's word | K |
| I'd say as much wert thou Minerva's owl | L |
| - | |
| So doff th' imposture of those heavy brows | F |
| They do not serve to hide thy instincts base | F |
| And if thou must be sometimes munching MOUSE | F |
| Munch it O Owl with less profound a face | F |
Henry Timrod
(1)
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