Sweet William's Farewell To Black-ey'd Susan: A Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDD EFGFHH IJKJLL MNIOPP QBQBFF RSRSDD TUTVWX GYCYZZ| All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd | A |
| The streamers waving in the wind | B |
| When black ey'd Susan came aboard | C |
| Oh where shall I my true love find | B |
| Tell me ye jovial sailors tell me true | D |
| If my sweet William sails among the crew | D |
| - | |
| William who high upon the yard | E |
| Rock'd with the billow to and fro | F |
| Soon as her well known voice he heard | G |
| He sigh'd and cast his eyes below | F |
| The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands | H |
| And quick as lightning on the deck he stands | H |
| - | |
| So the sweet lark high pois'd in air | I |
| Shuts close his pinions to his breast | J |
| If chance his mate's shrill call he hear | K |
| And drops at once into her nest | J |
| The noblest captain in the British fleet | L |
| Might envy William's lip those kisses sweet | L |
| - | |
| 'O Susan Susan lovely dear | M |
| My vows shall ever true remain | N |
| Let me kiss off that falling tear | I |
| We only part to meet again | O |
| Change as ye list ye winds my heart shall be | P |
| The faithful compass that still points to thee | P |
| - | |
| 'Believe not what the landmen say | Q |
| Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind | B |
| They'll tell thee sailors when away | Q |
| In ev'ry port a mistress find | B |
| Yes yes believe them when they tell thee so | F |
| For thou art present wheresoe'er I go | F |
| - | |
| 'If to far India's coast we sail | R |
| Thy eyes are seen in di'monds bright | S |
| Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale | R |
| Thy skin is ivory so white | S |
| Thus ev'ry beauteous object that I view | D |
| Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue | D |
| - | |
| 'Though battle call me from thy arms | T |
| Let not my pretty Susan mourn | U |
| Though cannons roar yet safe from harms | T |
| William shall to his dear return | V |
| Love turns aside the balls that round me fly | W |
| Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye' | X |
| - | |
| The boatswain gave the dreadful word | G |
| The sails their swelling bosom spread | Y |
| No longer must she stay aboard | C |
| They kiss'd she sigh'd he hung his head | Y |
| Her less'ning boat unwilling rows to land | Z |
| 'Adieu' she cries and wav'd her lily hand | Z |
John Gay
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation