Once More Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCC DDEE FFGG HHII JJKK CCLL MMNN OOPP QQRR SSTT UNRR VVPP WWQQ XXYY GGNN ZZA2 B2B2KK C2C2D2E2 F2F2CC LLG2H2| 'Will I come ' That is pleasant I beg to inquire | A |
| If the gun that I carry has ever missed fire | B |
| And which was the muster roll mention but one | C |
| That missed your old comrade who carries the gun | C |
| - | |
| You see me as always my hand on the lock | D |
| The cap on the nipple the hammer full cock | D |
| It is rusty some tell me I heed not the scoff | E |
| It is battered and bruised but it always goes off | E |
| - | |
| 'Is it loaded ' I'll bet you What doesn't it hold | F |
| Rammed full to the muzzle with memories untold | F |
| Why it scares me to fire lest the pieces should fly | G |
| Like the cannons that burst on the Fourth of July | G |
| - | |
| One charge is a remnant of College day dreams | H |
| Its wadding is made of forensics and themes | H |
| Ah visions of fame what a flash in the pan | I |
| As the trigger was pulled by each clever young man | I |
| - | |
| And love Bless my stars what a cartridge is there | J |
| With a wadding of rose leaves and ribbons and hair | J |
| All crammed in one verse to go off at a shot | K |
| 'Were there ever such sweethearts ' Of course there were not | K |
| - | |
| And next what a load it wall split the old gun | C |
| Three fingers four fingers five fingers of fun | C |
| Come tell me gray sages for mischief and noise | L |
| Was there ever a lot like us fellows 'The Boys' | L |
| - | |
| Bump I bump down the staircase the cannon ball goes | M |
| Aha old Professor Look out for your toes | M |
| Don't think my poor Tutor to sleep in your bed | N |
| Two 'Boys' 'twenty niners room over your head | N |
| - | |
| Remember the nights when the tar barrel blazed | O |
| From red 'Massachusetts' the war cry was raised | O |
| And 'Hollis' and 'Stoughton' reechoed the call | P |
| Till P poked his head out of Holworthy Hall | P |
| - | |
| Old P as we called him at fifty or so | Q |
| Not exactly a bud but not quite in full blow | Q |
| In ripening manhood suppose we should say | R |
| Just nearing his prime as we boys are to day | R |
| - | |
| Oh say can you look through the vista of age | S |
| To the time when old Morse drove the regular stage | S |
| When Lyon told tales of the long vanished years | T |
| And Lenox crept round with the rings in his ears | T |
| - | |
| And dost thou my brother remember indeed | U |
| The days of our dealings with Willard and Read | N |
| When 'Dolly' was kicking and running away | R |
| And punch came up smoking on Fillebrown's tray | R |
| - | |
| But where are the Tutors my brother oh tell | V |
| And where the Professors remembered so well | V |
| The sturdy old Grecian of Holworthy Hall | P |
| And Latin and Logic and Hebrew and all | P |
| - | |
| 'They are dead the old fellows' we called them so then | W |
| Though we since have found out they were lusty young men | W |
| They are dead do you tell me but how do you know | Q |
| You've filled once too often I doubt if it's so | Q |
| - | |
| I'm thinking I'm thinking Is this 'sixty eight | X |
| It's not quite so clear It admits of debate | X |
| I may have been dreaming I rather incline | Y |
| To think yes I'm certain it is 'twenty nine | Y |
| - | |
| 'By Zhorzhe ' as friend Sales is accustomed to cry | G |
| You tell me they're dead but I know it's a lie | G |
| Is Jackson not President What was 't you said | N |
| It can't be you're joking what all of 'em dead | N |
| - | |
| Jim Harry Fred Isaac all gone from our side | Z |
| They could n't have left us no not if they tried | Z |
| Look there 's our old Prises he can't find his text | A2 |
| See P rubs his leg as he growls out 'The next ' | - |
| - | |
| I told you 't was nonsense Joe give us a song | B2 |
| Go harness up 'Dolly ' and fetch her along | B2 |
| Dead Dead You false graybeard I swear they are not | K |
| Hurrah for Old Hickory Oh I forgot | K |
| - | |
| Well one we have with us how could he contrive | C2 |
| To deal with us youngsters and still to survive | C2 |
| Who wore for our guidance authority's robe | D2 |
| No wonder he took to the study of Job | E2 |
| - | |
| And now as my load was uncommonly large | F2 |
| Let me taper it off with a classical charge | F2 |
| When that has gone off I shall drop my old gun | C |
| And then stand at ease for my service is done | C |
| - | |
| Bibamus ad Classem vocatam 'The Boys' | L |
| Et eorum Tutorem cui nomen est 'Noyes' | L |
| Et floreant valeant vigeant tam | G2 |
| Non Peircius ipse enumeret quam | H2 |
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(1)
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