The Yarn Of The Loch Achray Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AAAAAABC AAAABC CCCCDDEEFFBC GGFFHHBC AAIIIBC BBJKLLBC BMLMNNBC OOLLPPEBC QRMMSSS SLLLBCThe Loch Achray was a clipper tall | A |
With seven and twenty hands in all | A |
Twenty to hand and reef and haul | A |
A skipper to sail and mates to bawl | A |
Tally on to the tackle fall | A |
Heave now 'n' start her heave 'n' pawl | A |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
- | |
Her crew were shipped and they said Farewell | A |
So long my Tottie my lovely gell | A |
We sail to day if we fetch to hell | A |
It's time we tackled the wheel a spell | A |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
- | |
The dockside loafers talked on the quay | C |
The day that she towed down to sea | C |
Lord what a handsome ship she be | C |
Cheer her sonny boys three times three | C |
And the dockside loafers gave her a shout | D |
As the red funnelled tug boat towed her out | D |
They gave her a cheer as the custom is | E |
And the crew yelled Take our loves to Liz | E |
Three cheers bullies for old Pier Head | F |
'N' the bloody stay at homes they said | F |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
- | |
In the grey of the coming on of night | G |
She dropped the tug at the Tuskar Light | G |
'N' the topsails went to the topmast head | F |
To a chorus that fairly awoke the dead | F |
She trimmed her yards and slanted South | H |
With her royals set and a bone in her mouth | H |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
- | |
She crossed the Line and all went well | A |
They ate they slept and they struck the bell | A |
And I give you the gospel truth when I state | I |
The crowd didn't find any fault with the Mate | I |
But one night off the River Plate | I |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
- | |
It freshened up till it blew like thunder | B |
And burrowed her deep lee scuppers under | B |
The old man said I mean to hang on | J |
Till her canvas busts or her sticks are gone | K |
Which the blushing looney did till at last | L |
Overboard went her mizzen mast | L |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
- | |
Then a fierce squall struck the Loch Achray | B |
And bowed her down to her water way | M |
Her main shrouds gave and her forestay | L |
And a green sea carried her wheel away | M |
Ere the watch below had time to dress | N |
She was cluttered up in a blushing mess | N |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
- | |
She couldn't lay to nor yet pay off | O |
And she got swept clean in the bloody trough | O |
Her masts were gone and afore you knowed | L |
She filled by the head and down she goed | L |
Her crew made seven and twenty dishes | P |
For the big jack sharks and the little fishes | P |
And over their bones the water swishes | E |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
- | |
The wives and girls they watch in the rain | Q |
For a ship as won't come home again | R |
I reckon it's them head winds they say | M |
She'll be home to morrow if not to day | M |
I'll just nip home 'n' I'll air the sheets | S |
'N' buy the fixins 'n' cook the meats | S |
As my man likes 'n' my man eats | S |
- | |
So home they goes by the windy streets | S |
Thinking their men are homeward bound | L |
With anchors hungry for English ground | L |
And the bloody fun of it is they're drowned | L |
Hear the yarn of a sailor | B |
An old yarn learned at sea | C |
John Masefield
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