Old Hen And Young Cock Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEBBFFGG HIJJKKLLMMNNJJOOCCPP| Once an old hen led forth her brood | A |
| To scratch and glean and peck for food | A |
| A chick to give her wings a spell | B |
| Fluttered and tumbled in a well | B |
| The mother wept till day was done | C |
| When she met with a grown up son | C |
| And thus addressed him My dear boy | D |
| Your years and vigour give me joy | D |
| You thrash all cocks around I'm told | E |
| 'Tis right cocks should be brave and bold | E |
| But never fears I cannot quell | B |
| Never my son go near that well | B |
| A hateful false and wretched place | F |
| Which is most fatal to my race | F |
| Imprint that counsel on your breast | G |
| And trust to providence the rest | G |
| - | |
| He thanked the dame's maternal care | H |
| And promised never to go near | I |
| Yet still he burned to disobey | J |
| And hovered round it day by day | J |
| And communed thus I wonder why | K |
| Does mother think my soul is shy | K |
| Thinks me a coward or does she | L |
| Store grain in yonder well from me | L |
| I'll find that out and so here goes | M |
| So said he flaps his wings and crows | M |
| Mounted the margin peered below | N |
| Where to repel him rose a foe | N |
| His choler rose his plumes upreared | J |
| With ruffled plumes the foe appeared | J |
| Challenged to fight he dashed him down | O |
| Upon the mirrored wave to drown | O |
| And drowning uttered This condition | C |
| Comes from my mother's prohibition | C |
| Did she forget or not believe | P |
| That I too am a son of Eve | P |
John Gay
(1)
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About Old Hen And Young Cock
Old Hen And Young Cock is a poem by John Gay. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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