The Granny Grey, A Love Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCEFF GHGIIJJKKH LMMLNDDNMM HOPPHOQQ RRSASATTHH NNDDUUVV HFHFWWXYYX HYHYZA2YYYYB2B2LYYLN C2C2 OOND2D2SSYY OHOHOOD2D2 DE2DE2HH D2D2F2G2HOHOLLXXLLOO YH2QY AAI2J2DAME DOWSON was a granny grey | A |
Who three score years and ten | B |
Had pass'd her busy hours away | A |
In talking of the Men | B |
They were her theme at home abroad | C |
At wake and by the winter fire | D |
Whether it froze or blew or thaw'd | C |
In sunshine or in shade her ire | E |
Was never calm'd for still she made | F |
Scandal her pleasure and her trade | F |
- | |
A Grand daughter DAME DOWSON had | G |
As fair as fair could be | H |
Lovely enough to make Men mad | G |
For on her cheek's soft downy rose | I |
LOVE seem'd in dimples to repose | I |
Her clear blue eyes look'd mildly bright | J |
Like ether drops of liquid light | J |
Or sapphire gems which VENUS bore | K |
When for the silver sanded shore | K |
She left her native Sea | H |
- | |
ANNETTA was the damsel's name | L |
A pretty soft romantic sound | M |
Such as a lover's heart may wound | M |
And set his fancy in a flame | L |
For had the maid been christen'd JOAN | N |
Or DEBORAH or HESTER | D |
The little God had coldly prest her | D |
Or let her quite alone | N |
For magic is the silver sound | M |
Which often in a NAME is found | M |
- | |
ANNETTA was belov'd and She | H |
To WILLIAM gave her vows | O |
For WILLIAM was as brave a Youth | P |
As ever claim'd the meed of truth | P |
And to reward such constancy | H |
Nature that meed allows | O |
But Old DAME DOWSON could not bear | Q |
A Youth so brave a Maid so fair | Q |
- | |
The GRANNY GREY with maxims grave | R |
Oft to ANNETTA lessons gave | R |
And still the burthen of the Tale | S |
Was Keep the wicked Men away | A |
For should their wily arts prevail | S |
You'll surely rue the day | A |
And credit was to GRANNY due | T |
The truth she by EXPERIENCE knew | T |
ANNETTA blush'd and promis'd She | H |
Obedient to her will would be | H |
- | |
But Love with cunning all his own | N |
Would never let the Maid alone | N |
And though she dar'd not see her Lover | D |
Lest GRANNY should the deed discover | D |
She for a woman's weapon still | U |
From CUPID'S pinion pluck'd a quill | U |
And with it prov'd that human art | V |
Cannot confine the Female Heart | V |
- | |
At length an assignation She | H |
With WILLIAM slily made | F |
It was beneath an old Oak Tree | H |
Whose widely spreading shade | F |
The Moon's soft beams contriv'd to break | W |
For many a Village Lover's sake | W |
But Envy has a Lynx's eye | X |
And GRANNY DOWSON cautious went | Y |
Before to spoil their merriment | Y |
Thinking no creature nigh | X |
- | |
Young WILLIAM came but at the tree | H |
The watchful GRANDAM found | Y |
Straight to the Village hasten'd he | H |
And summoning his neighbours round | Y |
The Hedgerow's tangled boughs among | Z |
Conceal'd the list'ning wond'ring throng | A2 |
He told them that for many a night | Y |
An OLD GREY OWL was heard | Y |
A fierce ill omen'd crabbed Bird | Y |
Who fill'd the village with affright | Y |
He swore this Bird was large and keen | B2 |
With claws of fire and eye balls green | B2 |
That nothing rested where she came | L |
That many pranks the monster play'd | Y |
And many a timid trembling Maid | Y |
She brought to shame | L |
For negligence that was her own | N |
Turning the milk to water clear | C2 |
And spilling from the cask small beer | C2 |
- | |
Pinching like fairies harmless lasses | O |
And shewing Imps in looking glasses | O |
Or with heart piercing groan | N |
Along the church yard path swift gliding | D2 |
Or on a broomstick witchlike riding | D2 |
All listen'd trembling For the Tale | S |
Made cheeks of Oker chalky pale | S |
The young a valiant doubt pretended | Y |
The old believ'd and all attended | Y |
- | |
Now to DAME DOWSON he repairs | O |
And in his arms enfolds the Granny | H |
Kneels at her feet and fondly swears | O |
He will be true as any | H |
Caresses her with well feign'd bliss | O |
And fearfully implores a Kiss | O |
On the green turf distracted lying | D2 |
He wastes his ardent breath in sighing | D2 |
- | |
The DAME was silent for the Lover | D |
Would when she spoke | E2 |
She fear'd discover | D |
Her envious joke | E2 |
And she was too much charm'd to be | H |
In haste to end the Comedy | H |
- | |
Now WILLIAM weary of such wooing | D2 |
Began with all his might hollooing | D2 |
When suddenly from ev'ry bush | F2 |
The eager throngs impatient rush | G2 |
With shouting and with boist'rous glee | H |
DAME DOWSON they pursue | O |
And from the broad Oak's canopy | H |
O'er moonlight fields of sparkling dew | O |
They bear in triumph the Old DAME | L |
Bawling with loud Huzza's her name | L |
A witch a witch the people cry | X |
A witch the echoing hills reply | X |
'Till to her home the GRANNY came | L |
Where to confirm the tale of shame | L |
Each rising day they went in throngs | O |
With ribbald jests and sportive songs | O |
'Till GRANNY of her spleen repented | Y |
And to young WILLIAM'S ardent pray'r | H2 |
To take for life ANNETTA fair | Q |
At last CONSENTED | Y |
- | |
And should this TALE fall in the way | A |
Of LOVERS CROSS'D or GRANNIES GREY | A |
Let them confess 'tis made to prove | I2 |
The wisest heads TOO WEAK FOR LOVE | J2 |
Mary Darby Robinson
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Granny Grey, A Love Tale poem by Mary Darby Robinson
Best Poems of Mary Darby Robinson