A Humble Heroine Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCC DEFF GGHH IIJJ CCKK JJLL MMEN OOPP PPQQ RRLL PPSS GGSJ TTJJ KKSS MMUU| 'Twas at the Seige of Matagarda during the Peninsular War | A |
| That a Mrs Reston for courage outshone any man there by far | B |
| She was the wife of a Scottish soldier in Matagarda Port | C |
| And to attend to her husband she there did resort | C |
| - | |
| 'Twas in the Spring of the year | D |
| That General Sir Thomas Graham occupied Matagarda with men | E |
| These consisted of a detachment from the Scots Brigade | F |
| And on that occasion they weren't in the least afraid | F |
| - | |
| And Captain Maclaine of the th did the whole of them command | G |
| And the courage the men displayed was really grand | G |
| Because they held Matagarda for fifty four days | H |
| Against o'erwhelming numbers of the French therefore they are worthy of praise | H |
| - | |
| The British were fighting on behalf of Spain | I |
| But if they fought on their behalf they didn't fight in vain | I |
| For they beat them manfully by land and sea | J |
| And from the shores of Spain they were forced to flee | J |
| - | |
| Because Captain Maclaine set about repairing the old fort | C |
| So as to make it comfortable for his men to resort | C |
| And there he kept his men at work day by day | K |
| Filling sand bags and stuffing them in the walls without delay | K |
| - | |
| There was one woman in the fort during those trying dags | J |
| A Mrs Reston who is worthy of great praise | J |
| She acted like a ministering angel to the soldiers while there | L |
| By helping them to fill sand bags it was her constant care | L |
| - | |
| Mrs Reston behaved as fearlessly as any soldier in the garrison | M |
| And amongst the soldiers golden opinions she won | M |
| For her presence was everywhere amongst the men | E |
| And the service invaluable she rendered to them | N |
| - | |
| Methinks I see that brave heroine carrying her child | O |
| Whilst the bullets were falling around her enough to drive her wild | O |
| And bending over it to protect it from danger | P |
| Because to war's alarms it was a stranger | P |
| - | |
| And while the shells shrieked around and their fragments did scatter | P |
| She was serving the men at the guns with wine and water | P |
| And while the shot whistled around her courage wasn't slack | Q |
| Because to the soldiers she carried sand bags on her back | Q |
| - | |
| A little drummer boy was told to fetch water from the well | R |
| But he was afraid because the bullets from the enemy around it fell | R |
| And the Doctor cried to the boy Why are you standing there | L |
| But Mrs Reston said Doctor the bairn is feared I do declare | L |
| - | |
| And she said Give me the pail laddie I'll fetch the water | P |
| Not fearing that the shot would her brains scatter | P |
| And without a moment's hesitation she took the pail | S |
| Whilst the shot whirred thick around her yet her courage didn't fail | S |
| - | |
| And to see that heroic woman the scene was most grand | G |
| Because as she drew the water a shot cut the rope in her hand | G |
| But she caught the pail with her hand dexterously | S |
| Oh the scene was imposing end most beautiful to see | J |
| - | |
| The British fought bravely as they are always willing to do | T |
| Although their numbers were but few | T |
| So they kept up the cannonading with their artillery | J |
| And stood manfully at their guns against the enemy | J |
| - | |
| And five times the flagstaff was shot away | K |
| And as often was it replaced without dismay | K |
| And the flag was fastened to an angle of the wall | S |
| And the British resolved to defend it whatever did befall | S |
| - | |
| So the French were beaten and were glad to run | M |
| And the British for defeating them golden opinions have won | M |
| Ah through brave Captain Maclaine and his heroes bold | U |
| Likewise Mrs Reston whose name should be written in letters of gold | U |
Max Plowman
(1)
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About A Humble Heroine
A Humble Heroine is a poem by Max Plowman. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.