An Attempt To Remember The "grandmother's Apology." Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCC DDEE FFGG HHGG IIHH JJKK LLMM NNOO PPMM QQHH R STSTNNR KTKTU VTWTNNR V G VGVGXXV YRZRA2A2V B2A2B2A2C2C2V A2 D2VD2VE2E2V| WITH MANY APOLOGIES TO THE LAUREATE | A |
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| And Willie my eldest born is gone you say little Anne | B |
| Ruddy and white and strong on his legs he looks like a man | B |
| He was only fourscore years quite young when he died | C |
| I ought to have gone before but must wait for time and tide | C |
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| So Harry's wife has written she was always an awful fool | D |
| And Charlie was always drunk which made our families cool | D |
| For Willie was walking with Jenny when the moon came up the dale | E |
| And whit whit whit in the bush beside me chirrupt the nightingale | E |
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| Jenny I know had tripped and she knew that I knew of it well | F |
| She began to slander me I knew but I wouldn't tell | F |
| And she to be slandering me the impertinent base little liar | G |
| But the tongue is a fire as you know my dear the tongue is a fire | G |
| - | |
| And the parson made it his text last week and he said likewise | H |
| That a lie which is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies | H |
| That a downright hearty good falsehood doesn't so very much matter | G |
| But a lie which is half a truth is worse than one that is flatter | G |
| - | |
| Then Willie and Jenny turned in the sweet moonshine | I |
| And he said to me through his tears Let your good name be mine | I |
| And what do I care for Jane She was never over wise | H |
| Never the wife for Willie thank God that I keep my eyes | H |
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| Marry you Willie said I and I thought my heart would break | J |
| But a man cannot marry his grandmother so there must be some mistake | J |
| But he turned and clasped me in his arms and answered No love no | K |
| Seventy years ago my darling seventy years ago | K |
| - | |
| So Willie and I were wedded though clearly against the law | L |
| And the ringers rang with a will and Willie's gloves were straw | L |
| But the first that ever I bear was dead before it was born | M |
| For Willie I cannot weep life is flower and thorn | M |
| - | |
| Pattering over the boards my Annie an Annie like you | N |
| Pattering over the boards and Charlie and Harry too | N |
| Pattering over the boards of our beautiful little cot | O |
| And I'm not exactly certain whether they died or not | O |
| - | |
| And yet I know of a truth there is none of them left alive | P |
| For Willie went at eighty and Harry at ninety five | P |
| And Charlie at threescore years aye or more than that I'll be sworn | M |
| And that very remarkable infant that died before it was born | M |
| - | |
| So Willie has gone my beauty the eldest that bears the name | Q |
| It's a soothing thought In a hundred years it'll be all the same | Q |
| Here's a leg for a babe of a week says doctor in some surprise | H |
| But fetch me my glasses Annie I'm thankful I keep my eyes | H |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| AIR Three Fishers went Sailing | R |
| - | |
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| Three attorneys came sailing down Chancery Lane | S |
| Down Chancery Lane e'er the courts had sat | T |
| They thought of the leaders they ought to retain | S |
| But the Junior Bar oh they thought not of that | T |
| For serjeants get work and Q C 's too | N |
| And solicitors' sons in law frequently do | N |
| While the Junior Bar is moaning | R |
| - | |
| Three juniors sat up in Crown Office Row | K |
| In Crown Office Row e'er the courts had sat | T |
| They saw the solicitors passing below | K |
| And the briefs that were rolled up so tidy and fat | T |
| For serjeants get work etc | U |
| - | |
| Three briefs were delivered to Jones Q C | V |
| To Jones Q C e'er the courts had sat | T |
| And the juniors weeping and wringing their paws | W |
| Remarked that their business seemed uncommon flat | T |
| For Serjeants get work and Q C 's too | N |
| But as for the rest it's a regular do | N |
| And the Junior Bar is moaning | R |
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| - | |
| - | |
| Air Give that Wreath to Me | V |
| - | |
| - | |
| Farewell Manchester | G |
| - | |
| I | - |
| - | |
| Give that brief to me | V |
| Without so much bother | G |
| Never let it be | V |
| Given to another | G |
| Why this coy resistance | X |
| Wherefore keep such distance | X |
| Why hesitate so long to give that brief to me | V |
| - | |
| II | - |
| - | |
| Should'st thou ever find | Y |
| Any counsel willing | R |
| To conduct thy case | Z |
| For one pound one shilling | R |
| Scorn such vulgar tricks love | A2 |
| One pound three and six love | A2 |
| Is the proper thing then give that brief to me | V |
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| III | - |
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| Should thy case turn out | B2 |
| Hopeless and delusive | A2 |
| Still I'd rave and shout | B2 |
| Using terms abusive | A2 |
| Truth and sense might perish | C2 |
| Still thy cause I'd cherish | C2 |
| Hallow'd by thy gold then give that brief to me | V |
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| IV | A2 |
| - | |
| Should the learned judge | D2 |
| Sit on me like fury | V |
| Still I'd never budge | D2 |
| There's the British Jury | V |
| Should that stay prove rotten | E2 |
| Bowen Brett and Cotton | E2 |
| Would upset them all then give that brief to me | V |
Horace Smith
(1)
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About An Attempt To Remember The "grandmother's Apology."
An Attempt To Remember The "grandmother's Apology." is a poem by Horace Smith. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.