Decadence Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCDE EAFAGHGH IJIJBFBF KLMMNOPP QQAARRSM TTFF| Before the florid portico | A |
| I watched the gamblers come and go | A |
| While by me on a bench there sat | B |
| A female in a faded hat | B |
| A shabby shrinking crumpled creature | C |
| Of waxy casino ward with eyes | D |
| Of lost soul seeking paradise | E |
| - | |
| Then from the Caf eacute de la Paix | E |
| There shambled forth a waiter fellow | A |
| Clad dingily down stooped and grey | F |
| With hollow face careworn and yellow | A |
| With furtive feet before our seat | G |
| He came to a respectful stand | H |
| And bowed my sorry crone to greet | G |
| Saying Princess I kiss your hand | H |
| - | |
| She gave him such a gracious smile | I |
| And bade him linger by her side | J |
| So there they talked a little while | I |
| Of kingly pomp and country pride | J |
| Of Marquis This and Prince von That | B |
| Of Old Vienna glamour gay | F |
| Then sad he rose and raised his hat | B |
| Saying My tables I must lay | F |
| - | |
| Yea you must go dear Count she said | K |
| For luncheon tables must be laid | L |
| He sighed from his alpaca jacket | M |
| He pressed into her hand a packet | M |
| Sorry to day it's all I'm rich in | N |
| A chicken sandwich from the kitchen | O |
| Then bowed and left her after she | P |
| Had thanked him with sweet dignity | P |
| - | |
| She pushed the package out of sight | Q |
| Within her bag and closed it tight | Q |
| But by and bye I saw her go | A |
| To where thick laurel bushes grow | A |
| And there behind that leafy screen | R |
| Thinking herself by all unseen | R |
| That sandwich How I saw her grab it | S |
| And gulp it like a starving rabbit | M |
| - | |
| Thinks I Is all that talk a bluff | T |
| Their dukes and kings and courtly stuff | T |
| The way she ate why one would say | F |
| She hadn't broken fast all day | F |
Robert William Service
(1)
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