The Contract Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH IIJJ KKKLMLMMMLLLLLMMLNNO OLPQPMRSR MMTT UUVV| Come Peggy put your toys away you needn't shake your head | A |
| Your bear's been working overtime he's panting for his bed | A |
| He's turned a thousand somersaults and now his head must ache | B |
| It's cruelty to animals to keep the bear awake | B |
| - | |
| At this she stamped in mutiny and then she urged her plea | C |
| Her wonted plea A little time a minute more for me | C |
| Be off you little rogue of rogues I sternly made reply | D |
| It's wicked to be sitting up with sand in either eye | D |
| - | |
| To bed to bed you sleepy head and then and then who knows | E |
| Some day you'll be a grown up girl and lovely as a rose | E |
| And some day some one else will come a gallant youth and gay | F |
| To harry me and marry you and carry you away | F |
| - | |
| At this the storm broke out afresh You know I hate the boys | G |
| They're only good at taking things and breaking things and noise | G |
| So Daddy please remember this because I want you to | H |
| I'll never marry any boy I'll only marry you | H |
| - | |
| Agreed I cried the imp of course had won the bout of wits | I |
| Had gained her point and got her time and beaten me to fits | I |
| Agreed agreed she danced for joy we'll leave no room for doubt | J |
| But bind ourselves with pen and ink and write the contract out | J |
| - | |
| This is a contract firm and clear | K |
| Made as doth from these presents appear | K |
| Between Peggy being now in her sixth year | K |
| A child of laughter | L |
| A sort of funny actress | M |
| Referred to hereinafter | L |
| As the said contractress | M |
| Between the said contractress that is to say | M |
| And a person with whom she is often good enough to play | M |
| Who happens to have been something of a factor | L |
| In bringing her into the world who in short is her father | L |
| And is hereinafter spoken of as the said contractor | L |
| Now the said contractress declares she would rather | L |
| Marry the said contractor than any other | L |
| At the same time she affirms with the utmost steadiness | M |
| Her perfect readiness | M |
| To take any other fellow on as a brother | L |
| Still she means to marry her father and to be his wife | N |
| And to live happily with him all the rest of her life | N |
| This contract is made without consideration | O |
| And is subject to later ratification | O |
| The said contractress had it read through | L |
| to see that nothing was missed | P |
| And she took her pen and she held it tight | Q |
| in a chubby and cramped up fist | P |
| And she made her mark with a blotted cross | M |
| instead of signing her name | R |
| And the said contractor he signed in full | S |
| and they mean to observe the same | R |
| - | |
| Now give me Peg that old brown shoe that battered shoe of yours | M |
| I'll stow the contract in its toe and if the shoe endures | M |
| When sixteen years or so are gone I'll hunt for it myself | T |
| And take it gently from its drawer or get it from its shelf | T |
| - | |
| And when mid clouds of scattered rice through all the wedding whirl | U |
| A laughing fellow hurries out a certain graceless girl | U |
| Unless my hand have lost its strength unless my eye be dim | V |
| I'll lift the shoe the contract too and fling the lot at him | V |
R. C. Lehmann
(1)
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