The Soldier's Return: A Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDEFE GEAEHIJI AKAKLBMB NOIOPEPE IEQEERRR SRRRTRUR IRVRRRRR AEWEWEREWHEN wild war's deadly blast was blawn | A |
And gentle peace returning | B |
Wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless | C |
And mony a widow mourning | B |
I left the lines and tented field | D |
Where lang I'd been a lodger | E |
My humble knapsack a' my wealth | F |
A poor and honest sodger | E |
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A leal light heart was in my breast | G |
My hand unstain'd wi' plunder | E |
And for fair Scotia hame again | A |
I cheery on did wander | E |
I thought upon the banks o' Coil | H |
I thought upon my Nancy | I |
I thought upon the witching smile | J |
That caught my youthful fancy | I |
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At length I reach'd the bonie glen | A |
Where early life I sported | K |
I pass'd the mill and trysting thorn | A |
Where Nancy aft I courted | K |
Wha spied I but my ain dear maid | L |
Down by her mother's dwelling | B |
And turn'd me round to hide the flood | M |
That in my een was swelling | B |
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Wi' alter'd voice quoth I Sweet lass | N |
Sweet as yon hawthorn's blossom | O |
O happy happy may he be | I |
That's dearest to thy bosom | O |
My purse is light I've far to gang | P |
And fain would be thy lodger | E |
I've serv'd my king and country lang | P |
Take pity on a sodger | E |
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Sae wistfully she gaz'd on me | I |
And lovelier was than ever | E |
Quo' she A sodger ance I lo'ed | Q |
Forget him shall I never | E |
Our humble cot and hamely fare | E |
Ye freely shall partake it | R |
That gallant badge the dear cockade | R |
Ye're welcome for the sake o't | R |
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She gaz'd she redden'd like a rose | S |
Syne pale like only lily | R |
She sank within my arms and cried | R |
Art thou my ain dear Willie | R |
By him who made yon sun and sky | T |
By whom true love's regarded | R |
I am the man and thus may still | U |
True lovers be rewarded | R |
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The wars are o'er and I'm come hame | I |
And find thee still true hearted | R |
Tho' poor in gear we're rich in love | V |
And mair we'se ne'er be parted | R |
Quo' she My grandsire left me gowd | R |
A mailen plenish'd fairly | R |
And come my faithfu' sodger lad | R |
Thou'rt welcome to it dearly | R |
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For gold the merchant ploughs the main | A |
The farmer ploughs the manor | E |
But glory is the sodger's prize | W |
The sodger's wealth is honor | E |
The brave poor sodger ne'er despise | W |
Nor count him as a stranger | E |
Remember he's his country's stay | R |
In day and hour of danger | E |
Robert Burns
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