Old Hen And Young Cock Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEBBFFGG HIJJKKLLMMNNJJOOCCPPOnce 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)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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