Phantasmagoria Canto I (the Trystyng ) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAAB CBCCB DEDDE FGFFG HIHHI JHJJH KLKKL MNOON PQPRS TUTTU NUNNU VWVVW XWXXW KBKKB YAYYA NZNNZ A2B2A2A2C2 D2E2D2SE2 F2YF2F2Y G2GG2G2G H2NI2H2N HJ2HHJ2 K2BL2M2B KK2KKK2ONE winter night at half past nine | A |
Cold tired and cross and muddy | B |
I had come home too late to dine | A |
And supper with cigars and wine | A |
Was waiting in the study | B |
- | |
There was a strangeness in the room | C |
And Something white and wavy | B |
Was standing near me in the gloom | C |
I took it for the carpet broom | C |
Left by that careless slavey | B |
- | |
But presently the Thing began | D |
To shiver and to sneeze | E |
On which I said Come come my man | D |
That's a most inconsiderate plan | D |
Less noise there if you please | E |
- | |
I've caught a cold the Thing replies | F |
Out there upon the landing | G |
I turned to look in some surprise | F |
And there before my very eyes | F |
A little Ghost was standing | G |
- | |
He trembled when he caught my eye | H |
And got behind a chair | I |
How came you here I said and why | H |
I never saw a thing so shy | H |
Come out Don't shiver there | I |
- | |
He said I'd gladly tell you how | J |
And also tell you why | H |
But here he gave a little bow | J |
You're in so bad a temper now | J |
You'd think it all a lie | H |
- | |
And as to being in a fright | K |
Allow me to remark | L |
That Ghosts have just as good a right | K |
In every way to fear the light | K |
As Men to fear the dark | L |
- | |
No plea said I can well excuse | M |
Such cowardice in you | N |
For Ghosts can visit when they choose | O |
Whereas we Humans ca'n't refuse | O |
To grant the interview | N |
- | |
He said A flutter of alarm | P |
Is not unnatural is it | Q |
I really feared you meant some harm | P |
But now I see that you are calm | R |
Let me explain my visit | S |
- | |
Houses are classed I beg to state | T |
According to the number | U |
Of Ghosts that they accommodate | T |
The Tenant merely counts as WEIGHT | T |
With Coals and other lumber | U |
- | |
This is a 'one ghost' house and you | N |
When you arrived last summer | U |
May have remarked a Spectre who | N |
Was doing all that Ghosts can do | N |
To welcome the new comer | U |
- | |
In Villas this is always done | V |
However cheaply rented | W |
For though of course there's less of fun | V |
When there is only room for one | V |
Ghosts have to be contented | W |
- | |
That Spectre left you on the Third | X |
Since then you've not been haunted | W |
For as he never sent us word | X |
'Twas quite by accident we heard | X |
That any one was wanted | W |
- | |
A Spectre has first choice by right | K |
In filling up a vacancy | B |
Then Phantom Goblin Elf and Sprite | K |
If all these fail them they invite | K |
The nicest Ghoul that they can see | B |
- | |
The Spectres said the place was low | Y |
And that you kept bad wine | A |
So as a Phantom had to go | Y |
And I was first of course you know | Y |
I couldn't well decline | A |
- | |
No doubt said I they settled who | N |
Was fittest to be sent | Z |
Yet still to choose a brat like you | N |
To haunt a man of forty two | N |
Was no great compliment | Z |
- | |
I'm not so young Sir he replied | A2 |
As you might think The fact is | B2 |
In caverns by the water side | A2 |
And other places that I've tried | A2 |
I've had a lot of practice | C2 |
- | |
But I have never taken yet | D2 |
A strict domestic part | E2 |
And in my flurry I forget | D2 |
The Five Good Rules of Etiquette | S |
We have to know by heart | E2 |
- | |
My sympathies were warming fast | F2 |
Towards the little fellow | Y |
He was so utterly aghast | F2 |
At having found a Man at last | F2 |
And looked so scared and yellow | Y |
- | |
At least I said I'm glad to find | G2 |
A Ghost is not a DUMB thing | G |
But pray sit down you'll feel inclined | G2 |
If like myself you have not dined | G2 |
To take a snack of something | G |
- | |
Though certainly you don't appear | H2 |
A thing to offer FOOD to | N |
And then I shall be glad to hear | I2 |
If you will say them loud and clear | H2 |
The Rules that you allude to | N |
- | |
Thanks You shall hear them by and by | H |
This IS a piece of luck | J2 |
What may I offer you said I | H |
Well since you ARE so kind I'll try | H |
A little bit of duck | J2 |
- | |
ONE slice And may I ask you for | K2 |
Another drop of gravy | B |
I sat and looked at him in awe | L2 |
For certainly I never saw | M2 |
A thing so white and wavy | B |
- | |
And still he seemed to grow more white | K |
More vapoury and wavier | K2 |
Seen in the dim and flickering light | K |
As he proceeded to recite | K |
His Maxims of Behaviour | K2 |
Lewis Carroll
(1)
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