The Five Carlins: An Election Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCB BDAD AEFE GHIH JKLK CMNO NOFP QRCR JMSM AFCF FTUT FJFJ AHAH SKAV JWQX DXQW JBWB OWYW OZSP A2QWQ FB2MC2 BBWB TJWJ

THERE was five Carlins in the SouthA
They fell upon a schemeB
To send a lad to London townC
To bring them tidings hameB
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Nor only bring them tidings hameB
But do their errands thereD
And aiblins gowd and honor baithA
Might be that laddie's shareD
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There was Maggy by the banks o' NithA
A dame wi' pride eneughE
And Marjory o' the mony LochsF
A Carlin auld and teughE
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And blinkin Bess of AnnandaleG
That dwelt near Solway sideH
And whisky Jean that took her gillI
In Galloway sae wideH
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And auld black Joan frae Crichton PeelJ
O' gipsy kith an' kinK
Five wighter Carlins were na foundL
The South countrie withinK
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To send a lad to London townC
They met upon a dayM
And mony a knight and mony a lairdN
This errand fain wad gaeO
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O mony a knight and mony a lairdN
This errand fain wad gaeO
But nae ane could their fancy pleaseF
O ne'er a ane but twaeP
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The first ane was a belted KnightQ
Bred of a Border bandR
And he wad gae to London townC
Might nae man him withstandR
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And he wad do their errands weelJ
And meikle he wad sayM
And ilka ane about the courtS
Wad bid to him gude dayM
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The neist cam in a Soger youthA
Who spak wi' modest graceF
And he wad gae to London townC
If sae their pleasure wasF
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He wad na hecht them courtly giftsF
Nor meikle speech pretendT
But he wad hecht an honest heartU
Wad ne'er desert his friendT
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Now wham to chuse and wham refuseF
At strife thir Carlins fellJ
For some had Gentlefolks to pleaseF
And some wad please themsel'J
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Then out spak mim mou'd Meg o' NithA
And she spak up wi' prideH
And she wad send the Soger youthA
Whatever might betideH
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For the auld Gudeman o' London courtS
She didna care a pinK
But she wad send the Soger youthA
To greet his eldest sonV
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Then up sprang Bess o' AnnandaleJ
And a deadly aith she's ta'enW
That she wad vote the Border KnightQ
Though she should vote her laneX
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For far off fowls hae feathers fairD
And fools o' change are fainX
But I hae tried the Border KnightQ
And I'll try him yet againW
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Says black Joan frae Crichton PeelJ
A Carlin stoor and grimB
The auld Gudeman or young GudemanW
For me may sink or swimB
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For fools will prate o' right or wrangO
While knaves laugh them to scornW
But the Soger's friends hae blawn the bestY
So he shall bear the hornW
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Then whisky Jean spak owre her drinkO
Ye weel ken kimmers a'Z
The auld gudeman o' London courtS
His back's been at the wa'P
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And mony a friend that kiss'd his caupA2
Is now a fremit wightQ
But it's ne'er be said o' whisky JeanW
We'll send the Border KnightQ
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Then slow raise Marjory o' the LochsF
And wrinkled was her browB2
Her ancient weed was russet grayM
Her auld Scots bluid was trueC2
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There's some great folk set light by meB
I set as light by themB
But I will send to London townW
Wham I like best at hameB
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Sae how this mighty plea may endT
Nae mortal wight can tellJ
God grant the King and ilka manW
May look weel to himselJ

Robert Burns



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