The Woodman Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBDDEDEE FGFGGHGHH IJKJJLJLL MNMNNONOO PQPQQRQRR STSTTUTUU SUSUUVUVW QRQRRSRSS GUGUUUUUU UUUUUDUDD TKTXKYKYZ OA2OA2A2B2A2B2B2 RSRSSOSOO SSSSSRSRR C2GC2GGCGCC RD2RE2F2CE2CC G2H2G2H2H2I2H2CC

Dedicated To The Rev J Knowles HollandA
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The beating snow clad bell with sounding deadB
Hath clanked four the woodman's wak'd againC
And as he leaves his comfortable bedB
Dithers to view the rimy feather'd paneD
And shrugs and wishes but 'tis all in vainD
The bed's warm comforts he must now foregoE
His family that oft till eight hath lainD
Without his labour's wage could not do soE
And glad to make them blest he shuffles through the snowE
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The early winter's morn is dark as pitchF
The wary wife from tinder brought at nightG
With flint and steel and many a sturdy twitchF
Sits up in bed to strike her man a lightG
And as the candle shows the rapturous sightG
Aside his wife his rosy sleeping boyH
He smacks his lips with exquisite delightG
With all a father's feelings father's joyH
Then bids his wife good bye and hies to his employH
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His breakfast water porridge humble foodI
A barley crust he in his wallet flingsJ
On this he toils and labours in the woodK
And chops his faggot twists his band and singsJ
As happily as princes and as kingsJ
With all their luxury and blest is heL
Can but the little which his labour bringsJ
Make both ends meet and from long debts keep freeL
And neat and clean preserve his numerous familyL
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Far o'er the dreary fields the woodland liesM
Rough is the journey which he daily goesN
The woolly clouds that hang the frowning skiesM
Keep winnowing down their drifting sleet and snowsN
And thro' his doublet keen the north wind blowsN
While hard as iron the cemented groundO
And smooth as glass the glibbed pool is frozeN
His nailed boots with clenching tread reboundO
And dithering echo starts and mocks the clamping soundO
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The woods how gloomy in a winter's mornP
The crows and ravens even cease to croakQ
The little birds sit chittering on the thornP
The pies scarce chatter when they leave the oakQ
Startled from slumber by the woodman's strokeQ
The milk maid's song is drown'd in gloomy careR
And while the village chimneys curl their smokeQ
She milks and blows and hastens to be thereR
And nature all seems sad and dying in despairR
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The quirking rabbit scarcely leaves her holeS
But rolls in torpid slumbers all the dayT
The fox is loth to 'gin a long patroleS
And scouts the woods content with meaner preyT
The hare so frisking timid once and gayT
'Hind the dead thistle hurkles from the viewU
Nor scarce is scar'd though in the traveller's wayT
Though waffling curs and shepherd dogs pursueU
So winter's rugged power affects all nature throughU
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What different changes winter's frowns supplyS
The clown no more a loitering hour beguilesU
Nor gaping tracks the clouds along the skyS
As when buds blossom and the warm sun smilesU
And Lawrence wages bids on hills and stilesU
Banks stiles and flowers and skies no longer charmV
Deep drifting snow each summer seat defilesU
With hasty blundering step and folded armV
He glad the stable seeks his frost nipt nose to warmW
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The shepherd haunts no more his spreading oakQ
Nor on the sloping pond head lies at lairR
The arbour he once wattled up is brokeQ
And left unworthy of his future careR
The ragged plundering stickers have been thereR
And pilfer'd it away he passes byS
His summer dwelling desolate and bareR
And ne'er so much as turn a conscious eyeS
But gladly seeks his fire and shuns th'inclement skyS
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The scene is cloth'd in snow from morn till nightG
The woodman's loth his chilly tools to seizeU
The crows unroosting as he comes in sightG
Shake down the feathery burden from the treesU
To look at things around he's fit to freezeU
Scar'd from her perch the fluttering pheasant fliesU
His hat and doublet whiten by degreesU
He quakes looks round and pats his hands and sighsU
And wishes to himself that the warm sun would riseU
-
The robin tamest of the feather d raceU
Soon as he hears the woodman's sounding chopsU
With ruddy bosom and a simple faceU
Around his old companion fearless hopsU
And there for hours in pleas'd attention stopsU
The woodman's heart is tender and humaneD
And at his meals he many a crumble dropsU
Thanks to thy generous feelings gentle swainD
And what thy pity gives shall not be given in vainD
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The woodman gladly views the closing dayT
To see the sun drop down behind the woodK
Sinking in clouds deep blue or misty greyT
Round as a foot ball and as red as bloodX
The pleasing prospect does his heart much goodK
Though 'tis not his such beauties to admireY
He hastes to fill his bags with billet woodK
Well pleas'd from the chill prospect to retireY
To seek his corner chair and warm snug cottage fireZ
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And soon us dusky even hovers roundO
And the white frost 'gins crizzle pond and brookA2
The little family are glimpsing roundO
And from the door dart many a wistful lookA2
The supper ready stewing on the hookA2
And every foot that clampers down the streetB2
Is for the coming father's step mistookA2
O'erjoy'd are they when he their eyes does meetB2
Bent 'neath his load snow clad as white as any sheetB2
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I think I see him seated in his chairR
Taking the bellows up the fire to blowS
I think I hear him joke and chatter thereR
Telling his children news they wish to knowS
With leather leggings on that stopt the snowS
And broad brimm'd hat uncouthly shapen roundO
Nor would he I'll be bound if it were soS
Give twopence for the chance could it be foundO
At that same hour to be the king of England crown'dO
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The woodman smokes the brats in mirth and gleeS
And artless prattle even's hours beguileS
While love's last pledge runs scrambling up his kneeS
The nightly comfort from his weary toilS
His chuff cheeks dimpling in a fondling smileS
He claims his kiss and says his scraps of prayerR
Begging his daddy's pretty song the whileS
Playing with his jacket buttons and his hairR
And thus in wedlock's joys the labourer drowns his careR
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And as most labourers knowingly pretendC2
By certain signs to judge the weather rightG
As oft from Noah's ark great floods descendC2
And buried moons foretell great storms at nightG
In such like things the woodman took delightG
And ere he went to bed would always kenC
Whether the sky was gloom'd or stars shone brightG
Then went to comfort's arms till morn and thenC
As cheery as the sun resum'd his toils agenC
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And ere he slept he always breath'd a prayerR
I thank thee Lord that thou to day didst giveD2
Sufficient strength to toil and bless thy careR
And thank thee still for what I may receiveE2
And O Almighty God while I still liveF2
Ere my eyes open on the last day's sunC
Prepare thou me this wicked world to leaveE2
And fit my passage ere my race is runC
'Tis all I beg O Lord thy heavenly will be doneC
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Holland to thee this humble ballad's sentG2
Who for the poor man's welfare oft hast pray'dH2
Whose tongue did ne'er belie its good intentG2
Preacher as well in practice as in tradeH2
Alas too often money's business madeH2
O may the wretch that's still in darkness livingI2
The Bible's comforts hear by thee display'dH2
And many a woodman's family forgivenC
Have cause for blessing thee that led their way to heavenC

John Clare



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