Father William Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AB CDC EFE GDG HIH JKJ LML NON KPK| A NEW VERSION BY LEE O HARRIS AND JAMES | A |
| WHITCOMB RILEY | B |
| - | |
| 'You are old Father William and though one would think | C |
| All the veins in your body were dry | D |
| Yet the end of your nose is red as a pink | C |
| I beg your indulgence but why ' | - |
| - | |
| 'You see ' Father William replied 'in my youth | E |
| 'Tis a thing I must ever regret | F |
| It worried me so to keep up with the truth | E |
| That my nose has a flush on it yet ' | - |
| - | |
| 'You are old ' said the youth 'and I grieve to detect | G |
| A feverish gleam in your eye | D |
| Yet I'm willing to give you full time to reflect | G |
| Now pray can you answer me why ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Alas ' said the sage 'I was tempted to choose | H |
| Me a wife in my earlier years | I |
| And the grief when I think that she didn't refuse | H |
| Has reddened my eyelids with tears ' | - |
| - | |
| 'You are old Father William ' the young man said | J |
| 'And you never touch wine you declare | K |
| Yet you sleep with your feet at the head of the bed | J |
| Now answer me that if you dare ' | - |
| - | |
| 'In my youth ' said the sage 'I was told it was true | L |
| That the world turned around in the night | M |
| I cherished the lesson my boy and I knew | L |
| That at morning my feet would be right ' | - |
| - | |
| 'You are old ' said the youth 'and it grieved me to note | N |
| As you recently fell through the door | O |
| That 'full as a goose' had been chalked on your coat | N |
| Now answer me that I implore ' | - |
| - | |
| 'My boy ' said the sage 'I have answered you fair | K |
| While you stuck to the point in dispute | P |
| But this is a personal matter and there | K |
| Is my answer the toe of my boot ' | - |
James Whitcomb Riley
(1)
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