On A Country Life Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCDDEEFFGGHHIIIIJG IIBBKKLLIIMMIINNOOII PPQQIIRRIIIISSTTUUVV WWXYZZIIA2A2IIQQB2B2 C2C2C2D2E2F2F2G2G2H2 H2I2I2IIIJ2K2IIIIIIL 2L2TTPPM2N2| I hate the clamours of the smoky towns | A |
| But much admire the bliss of rural clowns | A |
| Where some remains of innocence appear | B |
| Where no rude noise insults the listening ear | C |
| Nought but soft zephyrs whispering through the trees | D |
| Or the still humming of the painful bees | D |
| The gentle murmurs of a purling rill | E |
| Or the unwearied chirping of the drill | E |
| The charming harmony of warbling birds | F |
| Or hollow lowings of the grazing herds | F |
| The murmuring stockdoves melancholy coo | G |
| When they their loved mates lament or woo | G |
| The pleasing bleatings of the tender lambs | H |
| Or the indistinct mum'ling of their dams | H |
| The musical discord of chiding hounds | I |
| Whereto the echoing hill or rock resounds | I |
| The rural mournful songs of lovesick swains | I |
| Whereby they soothe their raging amorous pains | I |
| The whistling music of the lagging plough | J |
| Which does the strength of drooping beasts renew | G |
| And as the country rings with pleasant sounds | I |
| So with delightful prospects it abounds | I |
| Through every season of the sliding year | B |
| Unto the ravish'd sight new scenes appear | B |
| In the sweet spring the sun's prolific ray | K |
| Does painted flowers to the mild air display | K |
| Then opening buds then tender herbs are seen | L |
| And the bare fields are all array'd in green | L |
| In ripening summer the full laden vales | I |
| Gives prospect of employment for the flails | I |
| Each breath of wind the bearded groves makes bend | M |
| Which seems the fatal sickle to portend | M |
| In Autumn that repays the labourer's pains | I |
| Reapers sweep down the honours of the plains | I |
| Anon black Winter from the frozen north | N |
| Its treasuries of snow and hail pours forth | N |
| Then stormy winds blow through the hazy sky | O |
| In desolation nature seems to lie | O |
| The unstain'd snow from the full clouds descends | I |
| Whose sparkling lustre open eyes offends | I |
| In maiden white the glittering fields do shine | P |
| Then bleating flocks for want of food repine | P |
| With wither'd eyes they see all snow around | Q |
| And with their fore feet paw and scrape the ground | Q |
| They cheerfully do crop the insipid grass | I |
| The shepherds sighing cry Alas alas | I |
| Then pinching want the wildest beast does tame | R |
| Then huntsmen on the snow do trace their game | R |
| Keen frost then turns the liquid lakes to glass | I |
| Arrests the dancing rivulets as they pass | I |
| How sweet and innocent are country sports | I |
| And as men's tempers various are their sorts | I |
| You on the banks of soft meandering Tweed | S |
| May in your toils ensnare the watery breed | S |
| And nicely lead the artificial flee | T |
| Which when the nimble watchful trout does see | T |
| He at the bearded hook will briskly spring | U |
| Then in that instant twieth your hairy string | U |
| And when he's hook'd you with a constant hand | V |
| May draw him struggling to the fatal land | V |
| Then at fit seasons you may clothe your hook | W |
| With a sweet bait dress'd by a faithless cook | W |
| The greedy pike darts to't with eager haste | X |
| And being struck in vain he flies at last | Y |
| He rages storms and flounces through the stream | Z |
| But all alas his life cannot redeem | Z |
| At other times you may pursue the chase | I |
| And hunt the nimble hare from place to place | I |
| See when the dog is just upon the grip | A2 |
| Out at a side she'll make a handsome skip | A2 |
| And ere he can divert his furious course | I |
| She far before him scours with all her force | I |
| She'll shift and many times run the same ground | Q |
| At last outwearied by the stronger hound | Q |
| She falls a sacrifice unto his hate | B2 |
| And with sad piteous screams laments her fate | B2 |
| See how the hawk doth take his towering flight | C2 |
| And in his course outflies our very sight | C2 |
| Bears down the fluttering fowl with all his might | C2 |
| See how the wary gunner casts about | D2 |
| Watching the fittest posture when to shoot | E2 |
| Quick as the fatal lightning blasts the oak | F2 |
| He gives the springing fowl a sudden stroke | F2 |
| He pours upon't a shower of mortal lead | G2 |
| And ere the noise is heard the fowl is dead | G2 |
| Sometimes he spreads his hidden subtile snare | H2 |
| Of which the entangled fowl was not aware | H2 |
| Through pathless wastes he doth pursue his sport | I2 |
| Where nought but moor fowl and wild beasts resort | I2 |
| When the noon sun directly darts his beams | I |
| Upon your giddy heads with fiery gleams | I |
| Then you may bathe yourself in cooling streams | I |
| Or to the sweet adjoining grove retire | J2 |
| Where trees with interwoven boughs conspire | K2 |
| To form a grateful shade there rural swains | I |
| Do tune their oaten reeds to rural strains | I |
| The silent birds sit listening on the sprays | I |
| And in soft charming notes do imitate their lays | I |
| There you may stretch yourself upon the grass | I |
| And lull'd with music to kind slumbers pass | I |
| No meagre cares your fancy will distract | L2 |
| And on that scene no tragic fears will act | L2 |
| Save the dear image of a charming she | T |
| Nought will the object of your vision be | T |
| Away the vicious pleasures of the town | P |
| Let empty partial fortune on me frown | P |
| But grant ye powers that it may be my lot | M2 |
| To live in peace from noisy towns remote | N2 |
James Thomson
(1)
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On A Country Life is a poem by James Thomson. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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