Athabaska Dick Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCDEE FGFGCECE GHGHII JKJKLMLMNN OBOBPQPQRR STSTFRFRUVUVWDW| When the boys come out from Lac Labiche in the lure of the early Spring | A |
| To take the pay of the Hudson's Bay as their fathers did before | B |
| They are all a glee for the jamboree and they make the Landing ring | A |
| With a whoop and a whirl and a Grab your girl and a rip and a skip and a roar | B |
| For the spree of Spring is a sacred thing and the boys must have their fun | C |
| Packer and tracker and half breed Cree from the boat to the bar they leap | D |
| And then when the long flotilla goes and the last of their pay is done | C |
| The boys from the banks of Lac Labiche swing to the heavy sweep | D |
| And oh how they sigh and their throats are dry and sorry are they and sick | E |
| Yet there's none so cursed with a lime kiln thirst as that Athabaska Dick | E |
| - | |
| He was long and slim and lean of limb but strong as a stripling bear | F |
| And by the right of his skill and might he guided the Long Brigade | G |
| All water wise were his laughing eyes and he steered with a careless care | F |
| And he shunned the shock of foam and rock till they came to the Big Cascade | G |
| And here they must make the long portage and the boys sweat in the sun | C |
| And they heft and pack and they haul and track and each must do his trick | E |
| But their thoughts are far in the Landing bar where the founts of nectar run | C |
| And no man thinks of such gorgeous drinks as that Athabaska Dick | E |
| - | |
| 'Twas the close of day and his long boat lay just over the Big Cascade | G |
| When there came to him one Jack pot Jim with a wild light in his eye | H |
| And he softly laughed and he led Dick aft all eager yet half afraid | G |
| And snugly stowed in his coat he showed a pilfered flask of rye | H |
| And in haste he slipped or in fear he tripped but Dick in warning roared | I |
| And there rang a yell and it befell that Jim was overboard | I |
| - | |
| Oh I heard a splash and quick as a flash I knew he could not swim | J |
| I saw him whirl in the river swirl and thresh his arms about | K |
| In a queer strained way I heard Dick say I'm going after him | J |
| Throw off his coat leap down the boat and then I gave a shout | K |
| Boys grab him quick You're crazy Dick Far better one than two | L |
| Hell man You know you've got no show It's sure and certain death | M |
| And there we hung and there we clung with beef and brawn and thew | L |
| And sinews cracked and joints were racked and panting came our breath | M |
| And there we swayed and there we prayed till strength and hope were spent | N |
| Then Dick he threw us off like rats and after Jim he went | N |
| - | |
| With mighty urge amid the surge of river rage he leapt | O |
| And gripped his mate and desperate he fought to gain the shore | B |
| With teeth a gleam he bucked the stream yet swift and sure he swept | O |
| To meet the mighty cataract that waited all a roar | B |
| And there we stood like carven wood our faces sickly white | P |
| And watched him as he beat the foam and inch by inch he lost | Q |
| And nearer nearer drew the fall and fiercer grew the fight | P |
| Till on the very cascade crest a last farewell he tossed | Q |
| Then down and down and down they plunged into that pit of dread | R |
| And mad we tore along the shore to claim our bitter dead | R |
| - | |
| And from that hell of frenzied foam that crashed and fumed and boiled | S |
| Two little bodies bubbled up and they were heedless then | T |
| And oh they lay like senseless clay and bitter hard we toiled | S |
| Yet never never gleam of hope and we were weary men | T |
| And moments mounted into hours and black was our despair | F |
| And faint were we and we were fain to give them up as dead | R |
| When suddenly I thrilled with hope Back boys and give him air | F |
| I feel the flutter of his heart And as the word I said | R |
| Dick gave a sigh and gazed around and saw our breathless band | U |
| And saw the sky's blue floor above all strewn with golden fleece | V |
| And saw his comrade Jack pot Jim and touched him with his hand | U |
| And then there came into his eyes a look of perfect peace | V |
| And as there at his very feet the thwarted river raved | W |
| I heard him murmur low and deep | D |
| Thank God the whiskey's saved | W |
Robert Service
(1)
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