The Poet's Progress Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ KKLLMNOOPPQQHHRRSTUU VVWWWXXYKZZHHA2A2DDF CB2C2D2E2QQZZF2F2G2A 2H2H2HHI2I2J2K2L2M2N 2N2TTHHAADD

THOU Nature partial Nature I arraignA
Of thy caprice maternal I complainA
The peopled fold thy kindly care have foundB
The horn d bull tremendous spurns the groundB
The lordly lion has enough and moreC
The forest trembles at his very roarC
Thou giv'st the ass his hide the snail his shellD
The puny wasp victorious guards his cellD
Thy minions kings defend controul devourE
In all th' omnipotence of rule and powerE
Foxes and statesmen subtle wiles ensureF
The cit and polecat stink and are secureF
Toads with their poison doctors with their drugG
The priest and hedgehog in their robes are snugG
E'en silly women have defensive artsH
Their eyes their tongues and nameless other partsH
But O thou cruel stepmother and hardI
To thy poor fenceless naked child the BardI
A thing unteachable in worldly skillJ
And half an idiot too more helpless stillJ
No heels to bear him from the op'ning dunK
No claws to dig his hated sight to shunK
No horns but those by luckless Hymen wornL
And those alas not Amalthea's hornL
No nerves olfact'ry true to Mammon's footM
Or grunting grub sagacious evil's rootN
The silly sheep that wanders wild astrayO
Is not more friendless is not more a preyO
Vampyre booksellers drain him to the heartP
And viper critics cureless venom dartP
Critics appll'd I venture on the nameQ
Those cut throat bandits in the paths of fameQ
Bloody dissectors worse than ten MonroesH
He hacks to teach they mangle to exposeH
By blockhead's daring into madness stungR
His heart by wanton causeless malice wrungR
His well won ways than life itself more dearS
By miscreants torn who ne'er one sprig must wearT
Foil'd bleeding tortur'd in th' unequal strifeU
The hapless Poet flounces on through lifeU
Till fled each hope that once his bosom firedV
And fled each Muse that glorious once inspir'dV
Low sunk in squalid unprotected ageW
Dead even resentment for his injur'd pageW
He heeds no more the ruthless critics' rageW
So by some hedge the generous steed deceas'dX
For half starv'd snarling curs a dainty feastX
By toil and famine worn to skin and boneY
Lies senseless of each tugging bitch's sonK
A little upright pert tart tripping wightZ
And still his precious self his dear delightZ
Who loves his own smart shadow in the streetsH
Better than e'er the fairest she he meetsH
Much specious lore but little understoodA2
Veneering oft outshines the solid woodA2
His solid sense by inches you must tellD
But mete his cunning by the Scottish ellD
A man of fashion too he made his tourF
Learn'd vive la bagatelle et vive l'amourC
So travell'd monkeys their grimace improveB2
Polish their grin nay sigh for ladies' loveC2
His meddling vanity a busy fiendD2
Still making work his selfish craft must mendE2
Crochallan cameQ
The old cock'd hat the brown surtout the sameQ
His grisly beard just bristling in its mightZ
'Twas four long nights and days from shaving nightZ
His uncomb'd hoary locks wild staring thatch'dF2
A head for thought profound and clear unmatch'dF2
Yet tho' his caustic wit was biting rudeG2
His heart was warm benevolent and goodA2
O Dulness portion of the truly blestH2
Calm shelter'd haven of eternal restH2
Thy sons ne'er madden in the fierce extremesH
Of Fortune's polar frost or torrid beamsH
If mantling high she fills the golden cupI2
With sober selfish ease they sip it upI2
Conscious the bounteous meed they well deserveJ2
They only wonder some folks do not starveK2
The grave sage hern thus easy picks his frogL2
And thinks the mallard a sad worthless dogM2
When disappointment snaps the thread of HopeN2
When thro' disastrous night they darkling gropeN2
With deaf endurance sluggishly they bearT
And just conclude that fools are Fortune's careT
So heavy passive to the tempest's shocksH
Strong on the sign post stands the stupid oxH
Not so the idle Muses' mad cap trainA
Not such the workings of their moon struck brainA
In equanimity they never dwellD
By turns in soaring heaven or vaulted hellD

Robert Burns



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