Rustic Fishing Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCDEEFFGGHHIIJJKK JJLLMMNNOOPPBBQQRSTT UUVVWWXXYYZZXXA2A2ZZ B2B2C2C2D2E2F2F2BBG2 G2H2H2I2I2ZZJ2J2K2L2| On Sunday mornings freed from hard employ | A |
| How oft I mark the mischievous young boy | A |
| With anxious haste his pole and lines provide | B |
| For make shifts oft crook'd pins to thread were tied | B |
| And delve his knife with wishes ever warm | C |
| In rotten dunghills for the grub and worm | D |
| The harmless treachery of his hooks to bait | E |
| Tracking the dewy grass with many a mate | E |
| To seek the brook that down the meadows glides | F |
| Where the grey willow shadows by its sides | F |
| Where flag and reed in wild disorder spread | G |
| And bending bulrush bows its taper head | G |
| And just above the surface of the floods | H |
| Where water lilies mount their snowy buds | H |
| On whose broad swimming leaves of glossy green | I |
| The shining dragon fly is often seen | I |
| Where hanging thorns with roots wash'd bare appear | J |
| That shield the moor hen's nest from year to year | J |
| While crowding osiers mingling wild among | K |
| Prove snug asylums to her brood when young | K |
| Who when surpris'd by foes approaching near | J |
| Plunge 'neath the weeping bough and disappear | J |
| There far from terrors that the parson brings | L |
| Or church bell hearing when its summons rings | L |
| Half hid in meadow sweet and keck's high flowers | M |
| In lonely sport they spend the Sunday hours | M |
| Though ill supplied for fishing seems the brook | N |
| That breaks the mead in many a stinted crook | N |
| Oft choak'd in weeds and foil'd to find a road | O |
| The choice retirement of the snake and toad | O |
| Then lost in shallows dimpling restlessly | P |
| In fluttering struggles murmuring to be free | P |
| O'er gravel stones its depth can scarcely hide | B |
| It runs the remnant of its broken tide | B |
| Till seemly weary of each choak'd control | Q |
| It rests collected in some gulled hole | Q |
| Scoop'd by the sudden floods when winter's snow | R |
| Melts in confusion by a hasty thaw | S |
| There bent in hopeful musings on the brink | T |
| They watch their floating corks that seldom sink | T |
| Save when a wary roach or silver bream | U |
| Nibbles the worm as passing up the stream | U |
| Just urging expectation's hopes to stay | V |
| To view the dodging cork then slink away | V |
| Still hopes keep burning with untir'd delight | W |
| Still wobbling curves keep wavering like a bite | W |
| If but the breezy wind their floats should spring | X |
| And move the water with a troubling ring | X |
| A captive fish still fills the anxious eyes | Y |
| And willow wicks lie ready for the prize | Y |
| Till evening gales awaken damp and chill | Z |
| And nip the hopes that morning suns instil | Z |
| And resting flies have tired their gauzy wing | X |
| Nor longer tempt the watching fish to spring | X |
| Who at the worm no nibbles more repeat | A2 |
| But lunge from night in sheltering flag retreat | A2 |
| Then disappointed in their day's employ | Z |
| They seek amusement in a feebler joy | Z |
| Short is the sigh for fancies prov'd untrue | B2 |
| With humbler hopes still pleasure they pursue | B2 |
| Where the rude oak bridge scales the narrow pass | C2 |
| Half hid in rustling reeds and scrambling grass | C2 |
| Or stepping stones stride o'er the narrow sloughs | D2 |
| Which maidens daily cross to milk their cows | E2 |
| There they in artless glee for minnows run | F2 |
| And wade and dabble past the setting sun | F2 |
| Chasing the struttle o'er the shallow tide | B |
| And flat stones turning up where gudgeons hide | B |
| All former hopes their ill success delay'd | G2 |
| In this new change they fancy well repaid | G2 |
| And thus they wade and chatter o'er their joys | H2 |
| Till night unlook'd for young success destroys | H2 |
| Drives home the sons of solitude and streams | I2 |
| And stops uncloy'd hope's ever fresh'ning dreams | I2 |
| They then like school boys that at truant play | Z |
| In sloomy fear lounge on their homeward way | Z |
| And inly tremble as they gain the town | J2 |
| Where chastisement awaits with many a frown | J2 |
| And hazel twigs in readiness prepar'd | K2 |
| For their long absence bring a meet reward | L2 |
John Clare
(1)
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About Rustic Fishing
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