Tom Deadlight Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACCCACDEAFCC BGAGHG IBJKLMNK OBMPABAP QCBRBGR SSCAGGC HTHUBLH THVWBGV| During a tempest encountered homeward bound from the | A |
| Mediterranean a grizzled petty officer one of the two captains | B |
| of the forecastle dying at night in his hammock swung in the | A |
| sick bay under the tiered gun decks of the British Dreadnaught | C |
| wandering in his mind though with glimpses of sanity and | C |
| starting up at whiles sings by snatches his good bye and last | C |
| injunctions to two messmates his watchers one of whom fans the | A |
| fevered tar with the flap of his old sou'wester Some names and | C |
| phrases with here and there a line or part of one these in | D |
| his aberration wrested into incoherency from their original | E |
| connection and import he voluntarily derives as he does the | A |
| measure from a famous old sea ditty whose cadences long rife | F |
| and now humming in the collapsing brain attune the last | C |
| flutterings of distempered thought | C |
| - | |
| - | |
| Farewell and adieu to you noble hearties | B |
| Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain | G |
| For I've received orders for to sail for the | A |
| Deadman | G |
| But hope with the grand fleet to see you | H |
| again | G |
| - | |
| I have hove my ship to with main top sail | I |
| aback boys | B |
| I have hove my ship to for the strike | J |
| soundings clear | K |
| The black scud a'flying but by God's blessing | L |
| dam' me | M |
| Right up the Channel for the Deadman I'll | N |
| steer | K |
| - | |
| I have worried through the waters that are | O |
| called the Doldrums | B |
| And growled at Sargasso that clogs while ye | M |
| grope | P |
| Blast my eyes but the light ship is hid by the | A |
| mist lads | B |
| Flying Dutchman odds bobbs off the | A |
| Cape of Good Hope | P |
| - | |
| But what's this I feel that is fanning my cheek | Q |
| Matt | C |
| The white goney's wing how she rolls | B |
| 't is the Cape | R |
| Give my kit to the mess Jock for kin none is | B |
| mine none | G |
| And tell Holy Joe to avast with the crape | R |
| - | |
| Dead reckoning says Joe it won't do to go by | S |
| But they doused all the glims Matt in sky | S |
| t' other night | C |
| Dead reckoning is good for to sail for the | A |
| Deadman | G |
| And Tom Deadlight he thinks it may reckon | G |
| near right | C |
| - | |
| The signal it streams for the grand fleet to | H |
| anchor | T |
| The captains the trumpets the hullabaloo | H |
| Stand by for blue blazes and mind your | U |
| shank painters | B |
| For the Lord High Admiral he's squinting | L |
| at you | H |
| - | |
| But give me my tot Matt before I roll over | T |
| Jock let's have your flipper it's good for to | H |
| feel | V |
| And don't sew me up without baccy in mouth | W |
| boys | B |
| And don't blubber like lubbers when I turn | G |
| up my keel | V |
Herman Melville
(1)
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