Bill And Joe Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF GGHHCC IIJKFF LLMMCC NNGGFF OOPPCC QQCCFF RRSSCC TULLFF| COME dear old comrade you and I | A |
| Will steal an hour from days gone by | A |
| The shining days when life was new | B |
| And all was bright with morning dew | B |
| The lusty days of long ago | C |
| When you were Bill and I was Joe | C |
| - | |
| Your name may flaunt a titled trail | D |
| Proud as a cockerel's rainbow tail | D |
| And mine as brief appendix wear | E |
| As Tam O'Shanter's luckless mare | E |
| To day old friend remember still | F |
| That I am Joe and you are Bill | F |
| - | |
| You've won the great world's envied prize | G |
| And grand you look in people's eyes | G |
| With H O N and L L D | H |
| In big brave letters fair to see | H |
| Your fist old fellow off they go | C |
| How are you Bill How are you Joe | C |
| - | |
| You've worn the judge's ermined robe | I |
| You've taught your name to half the globe | I |
| You've sung mankind a deathless strain | J |
| You've made the dead past live again | K |
| The world may call you what it will | F |
| But you and I are Joe and Bill | F |
| - | |
| The chaffing young folks stare and say | L |
| See those old buffers bent and gray | L |
| They talk like fellows in their teens | M |
| Mad poor old boys That's what it means | M |
| And shake their heads they little know | C |
| The throbbing hearts of Bill and Joe | C |
| - | |
| How Bill forgets his hour of pride | N |
| While Joe sits smiling at his side | N |
| How Joe in spite of time's disguise | G |
| Finds the old schoolmate in his eyes | G |
| Those calm stern eyes that melt and fill | F |
| As Joe looks fondly up at Bill | F |
| - | |
| Ah pensive scholar what is fame | O |
| A fitful tongue of leaping flame | O |
| A giddy whirlwind's fickle gust | P |
| That lifts a pinch of mortal dust | P |
| A few swift years and who can show | C |
| Which dust was Bill and which was Joe | C |
| - | |
| The weary idol takes his stand | Q |
| Holds out his bruised and aching hand | Q |
| While gaping thousands come and go | C |
| How vain it seems this empty show | C |
| Till all at once his pulses thrill | F |
| 'T is poor old Joe's God bless you Bill | F |
| - | |
| And shall we breathe in happier spheres | R |
| The names that pleased our mortal ears | R |
| In some sweet lull of harp and song | S |
| For earth born spirits none too long | S |
| Just whispering of the world below | C |
| Where this was Bill and that was Joe | C |
| - | |
| No matter while our home is here | T |
| No sounding name is half so dear | U |
| When fades at length our lingering day | L |
| Who cares what pompous tombstones say | L |
| Read on the hearts that love us still | F |
| Hic jacet Joe Hic jacet Bill | F |
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(1)
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