The Joker And The Fishes. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBBCC DDDECCEEEFFCCGHHGCCI JJ CCKKKKCCCCLCCL| A | |
| - | |
| Some seek for jokers I avoid | B |
| A joke must be to be enjoy'd | B |
| Of wisdom's words by wit employ'd | B |
| God never meant for men of sense | C |
| The wits that joke to give offence | C |
| - | |
| Perchance of these I shall be able | D |
| To show you one preserved in fable | D |
| A joker at a banker's table | D |
| Most amply spread to satisfy | E |
| The height of epicurean wishes | C |
| Had nothing near but little fishes | C |
| So taking several of the fry | E |
| He whisper'd to them very nigh | E |
| And seem'd to listen for reply | E |
| The guests much wonder'd what it meant | F |
| And stared upon him all intent | F |
| The joker then with sober face | C |
| Politely thus explain'd the case | C |
| 'A friend of mine to India bound | G |
| Has been I fear | H |
| Within a year | H |
| By rocks or tempests wreck'd and drown'd | G |
| I ask'd these strangers from the sea | C |
| To tell me where my friend might be | C |
| But all replied they were too young | I |
| To know the least of such a matter | J |
| The older fish could tell me better | J |
| Pray may I hear some older tongue ' | - |
| What relish had the gentlefolks | C |
| For such a sample of his jokes | C |
| Is more than I can now relate | K |
| They put I'm sure upon his plate | K |
| A monster of so old a date | K |
| He must have known the names and fate | K |
| Of all the daring voyagers | C |
| Who following the moon and stars | C |
| Have by mischances sunk their bones | C |
| Within the realms of Davy Jones | C |
| And who for centuries had seen | L |
| Far down within the fathomless | C |
| Where whales themselves are sceptreless | C |
| The ancients in their halls of green | L |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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