The Ballad Of The Oysterman Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCD EEF GGHI J KK CCLL| IT was a tall young oysterman lived by the river side | A |
| His shop was just upon the bank his boat was on the tide | A |
| The daughter of a fisherman that was so straight and slim | B |
| Lived over on the other bank right opposite to him | B |
| - | |
| It was the pensive oysterman that saw a lovely maid | C |
| Upon a moonlight evening a sitting in the shade | C |
| He saw her wave her handkerchief as much as if to say | D |
| 'I 'm wide awake young oysterman and all the folks away ' | - |
| - | |
| Then up arose the oysterman and to himself said he | E |
| 'I guess I 'll leave the skiff at home for fear that folks should see | E |
| I read it in the story book that for to kiss his dear | F |
| Leander swam the Hellespont and I will swim this here ' | - |
| - | |
| And he has leaped into the waves and crossed the shining stream | G |
| And he has clambered up the bank all in the moonlight gleam | G |
| Oh there were kisses sweet as dew and words as soft as rain | H |
| But they have heard her father's step and in he leaps again | I |
| - | |
| Out spoke the ancient fisherman 'Oh what was that my daughter ' | - |
| ''T was nothing but a pebble sir I threw into the water ' | - |
| 'And what is that pray tell me love that paddles off so fast ' | - |
| 'It's nothing but a porpoise sir that 's been a swimming past ' | - |
| - | |
| Out spoke the ancient fisherman 'Now bring me my harpoon | J |
| I'll get into my fishing boat and fix the fellow soon ' | - |
| Down fell that pretty innocent as falls a snow white lamb | K |
| Her hair drooped round her pallid cheeks like sea weed on a clam | K |
| - | |
| Alas for those two loving ones she waked not from her swound | C |
| And he was taken with the cramp and in the waves was drowned | C |
| But Fate has metamorphosed them in pity of their woe | L |
| And now they keep an oyster shop for mermaids down below | L |
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(1)
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