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 AAI2J2

DAME DOWSON was a granny greyA
Who three score years and tenB
Had pass'd her busy hours awayA
In talking of the MenB
They were her theme at home abroadC
At wake and by the winter fireD
Whether it froze or blew or thaw'dC
In sunshine or in shade her ireE
Was never calm'd for still she madeF
Scandal her pleasure and her tradeF
-
A Grand daughter DAME DOWSON hadG
As fair as fair could beH
Lovely enough to make Men madG
For on her cheek's soft downy roseI
LOVE seem'd in dimples to reposeI
Her clear blue eyes look'd mildly brightJ
Like ether drops of liquid lightJ
Or sapphire gems which VENUS boreK
When for the silver sanded shoreK
She left her native SeaH
-
ANNETTA was the damsel's nameL
A pretty soft romantic soundM
Such as a lover's heart may woundM
And set his fancy in a flameL
For had the maid been christen'd JOANN
Or DEBORAH or HESTERD
The little God had coldly prest herD
Or let her quite aloneN
For magic is the silver soundM
Which often in a NAME is foundM
-
ANNETTA was belov'd and SheH
To WILLIAM gave her vowsO
For WILLIAM was as brave a YouthP
As ever claim'd the meed of truthP
And to reward such constancyH
Nature that meed allowsO
But Old DAME DOWSON could not bearQ
A Youth so brave a Maid so fairQ
-
The GRANNY GREY with maxims graveR
Oft to ANNETTA lessons gaveR
And still the burthen of the TaleS
Was Keep the wicked Men awayA
For should their wily arts prevailS
You'll surely rue the dayA
And credit was to GRANNY dueT
The truth she by EXPERIENCE knewT
ANNETTA blush'd and promis'd SheH
Obedient to her will would beH
-
But Love with cunning all his ownN
Would never let the Maid aloneN
And though she dar'd not see her LoverD
Lest GRANNY should the deed discoverD
She for a woman's weapon stillU
From CUPID'S pinion pluck'd a quillU
And with it prov'd that human artV
Cannot confine the Female HeartV
-
At length an assignation SheH
With WILLIAM slily madeF
It was beneath an old Oak TreeH
Whose widely spreading shadeF
The Moon's soft beams contriv'd to breakW
For many a Village Lover's sakeW
But Envy has a Lynx's eyeX
And GRANNY DOWSON cautious wentY
Before to spoil their merrimentY
Thinking no creature nighX
-
Young WILLIAM came but at the treeH
The watchful GRANDAM foundY
Straight to the Village hasten'd heH
And summoning his neighbours roundY
The Hedgerow's tangled boughs amongZ
Conceal'd the list'ning wond'ring throngA2
He told them that for many a nightY
An OLD GREY OWL was heardY
A fierce ill omen'd crabbed BirdY
Who fill'd the village with affrightY
He swore this Bird was large and keenB2
With claws of fire and eye balls greenB2
That nothing rested where she cameL
That many pranks the monster play'dY
And many a timid trembling MaidY
She brought to shameL
For negligence that was her ownN
Turning the milk to water clearC2
And spilling from the cask small beerC2
-
Pinching like fairies harmless lassesO
And shewing Imps in looking glassesO
Or with heart piercing groanN
Along the church yard path swift glidingD2
Or on a broomstick witchlike ridingD2
All listen'd trembling For the TaleS
Made cheeks of Oker chalky paleS
The young a valiant doubt pretendedY
The old believ'd and all attendedY
-
Now to DAME DOWSON he repairsO
And in his arms enfolds the GrannyH
Kneels at her feet and fondly swearsO
He will be true as anyH
Caresses her with well feign'd blissO
And fearfully implores a KissO
On the green turf distracted lyingD2
He wastes his ardent breath in sighingD2
-
The DAME was silent for the LoverD
Would when she spokeE2
She fear'd discoverD
Her envious jokeE2
And she was too much charm'd to beH
In haste to end the ComedyH
-
Now WILLIAM weary of such wooingD2
Began with all his might hollooingD2
When suddenly from ev'ry bushF2
The eager throngs impatient rushG2
With shouting and with boist'rous gleeH
DAME DOWSON they pursueO
And from the broad Oak's canopyH
O'er moonlight fields of sparkling dewO
They bear in triumph the Old DAMEL
Bawling with loud Huzza's her nameL
A witch a witch the people cryX
A witch the echoing hills replyX
'Till to her home the GRANNY cameL
Where to confirm the tale of shameL
Each rising day they went in throngsO
With ribbald jests and sportive songsO
'Till GRANNY of her spleen repentedY
And to young WILLIAM'S ardent pray'rH2
To take for life ANNETTA fairQ
At last CONSENTEDY
-
And should this TALE fall in the wayA
Of LOVERS CROSS'D or GRANNIES GREYA
Let them confess 'tis made to proveI2
The wisest heads TOO WEAK FOR LOVEJ2

Mary Darby Robinson



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