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)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About Bill And Joe
Bill And Joe is a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about Bill And Joe poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes
Best Poems of Oliver Wendell Holmes