A Christmas Colloquy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBBCCC DDEEFFGGEEHHEE IGGJJ KLLMNOOGG IKKPP KAAA QQEE IRRSSTTPPP KKKUUGGGI IVVWWXXX IIYYZZZZZZIITHE country farmer has his joys | A |
Of little city girls and boys | A |
When brother Thomas brings his brood | B |
Of motherless brats in Christmas mood | B |
To try our country air and food | B |
And O what splendid pies and cakes | C |
Their pleased and pretty grandma makes | C |
And O what squeals and stomach aches | C |
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Poor Thomas shepherds him a flock | D |
Of city souls as hard as rock | D |
And though they will not fill his larder | E |
He only preaches Christ the harder | E |
But Ann though seven years my niece | F |
Is still a pagan little piece | F |
And as she often hints to me | G |
She hates the sound of piety | G |
Fair Inez is my ancient setter | E |
Who lies by the fire when we will let her | E |
Alas this amiable dog | H |
Heard all the bitter dialogue | H |
That passed between my niece and brother | E |
Misunderstanding one another | E |
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ANN | I |
Father what will there be for me | G |
To morrow on the Christmas tree | G |
Have you told Santa what to bring | J |
My pony my doll and everything | J |
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THOMAS | K |
My daughter Santa will know best | L |
What to bring you and what the rest | L |
But father and his little girl | M |
And everybody in the world | N |
Should dwell to night on higher things | O |
For hark the herald angel sings | O |
And in a manger poor and lowly | G |
Lies little Jesus high and holy | G |
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ANN | I |
Father don't talk of little Jesus | K |
You're only doing it to tease us | K |
It isn't nearly time for bed | P |
And I want to know what Santa said | P |
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THOMAS | K |
Jesus is better than any toys | A |
For little sinning girls and boys | A |
For Jesus saves but sin destroys | A |
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And O it gives him sad surprise | Q |
There must be tears in Jesus' eyes | Q |
When little girls with bad behavior | E |
Forget to own their Lord and Savior | E |
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ANN | I |
I didn't you know it isn't true | R |
I say my prayers I always do | R |
I know about Jesus very well | S |
And God the Father Heaven and Hell | S |
O please don't say it any more | T |
You've said it so many times before | T |
But tell me all about Santa instead | P |
And about the horns on his reindeer's head | P |
And what he will bring me on his sled | P |
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THOMAS | K |
This night he was born on earth for us | K |
And can my daughter mock him thus | K |
And care more for her worldly pleasures | U |
Than Jesus' love and heavenly treasures | U |
For Jesus didn't like to be | G |
So crowned with thorns and nailed to tree | G |
But there was a sinful world to free | G |
And out he went to Gethsemane | I |
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ANN | I |
And left the twelve and went apart | V |
O father I know it off by heart | V |
Please father please don't finish it out | W |
There's so much else to talk about | W |
I ask about Santa and there you go | X |
And now you're spoiling my Christmas so | X |
And you are the wickedest man I know | X |
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Disgraceful scenes require the curtain | I |
But lest the moral be uncertain | I |
I briefly bring the good report | Y |
That valiant Thomas held the fort | Y |
And wicked Ann was quite defeated | Z |
In vain denied in vain entreated | Z |
In vain she wailed in vain she wept | Z |
And said a briny prayer and slept | Z |
While Inez who had been perplexed | Z |
To see good kinsfolk so much vexed | Z |
When peace descended on the twain | I |
Lay down beside the fire again | I |
John Crowe Ransom
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