Fighting Mac" A Life Tragedy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABBC DEDEEFF GHGHHIJ KLMLLEE NONOOEE NPNPPQQ DRDRRNN STSTTCC FNFNNUU| A pistol shot rings round and round the world | A |
| In pitiful defeat a warrior lies | B |
| A last defiance to dark Death is hurled | A |
| A last wild challenge shocks the sunlit skies | B |
| Alone he falls with wide wan woeful eyes | B |
| Eyes that could smile at death could not face shame | C |
| - | |
| Alone alone he paced his narrow room | D |
| In the bright sunshine of that Paris day | E |
| Saw in his thought the awful hand of doom | D |
| Saw in his dream his glory pass away | E |
| Tried in his heart his weary heart to pray | E |
| O God who made me give me strength to face | F |
| The spectre of this bitter black disgrace | F |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| The burn brawls darkly down the shaggy glen | G |
| The bee kissed heather blooms around the door | H |
| He sees himself a barefoot boy again | G |
| Bending o'er page of legendary lore | H |
| He hears the pibroch grips the red claymore | H |
| Runs with the Fiery Cross a clansman true | I |
| Sworn kinsman of Rob Roy and Roderick Dhu | J |
| - | |
| Eating his heart out with a wild desire | K |
| One day behind his counter trim and neat | L |
| He hears a sound that sets his brain afire | M |
| The Highlanders are marching down the street | L |
| Oh how the pipes shrill out the mad drums beat | L |
| On to the gates of Hell my Gordons gay | E |
| He flings his hated yardstick far away | E |
| - | |
| He sees the sullen pass high crowned with snow | N |
| Where Afghans cower with eyes of gleaming hate | O |
| He hurls himself against the hidden foe | N |
| They try to rally ah too late too late | O |
| Again defenceless with fierce eyes that wait | O |
| For death he stands like baited bull at bay | E |
| And flouts the Boers that mad Majuba day | E |
| - | |
| He sees again the murderous Soudan | N |
| Blood slaked and rapine swept He seems to stand | P |
| Upon the gory plain of Omdurman | N |
| Then Magersfontein and supreme command | P |
| Over his Highlanders To shake his hand | P |
| A King is proud and princes call him friend | Q |
| And glory crowns his life and now the end | Q |
| - | |
| The awful end His eyes are dark with doom | D |
| He hears the shrapnel shrieking overhead | R |
| He sees the ravaged ranks the flame stabbed gloom | D |
| Oh to have fallen the battle field his bed | R |
| With Wauchope and his glorious brother dead | R |
| Why was he saved for this for this And now | N |
| He raises the revolver to his brow | N |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| In many a Highland home framed with rude art | S |
| You'll find his portrait rough hewn stern and square | T |
| It's graven in the Fuyam fellah's heart | S |
| The Ghurka reads it at his evening prayer | T |
| The raw lands know it where the fierce suns glare | T |
| The Dervish fears it Honour to his name | C |
| Who holds aloft the shield of England's fame | C |
| - | |
| Mourn for our hero men of Northern race | F |
| We do not know his sin we only know | N |
| His sword was keen He laughed death in the face | F |
| And struck for Empire's sake a giant blow | N |
| His arm was strong Ah well they learnt the foe | N |
| The echo of his deeds is ringing yet | U |
| Will ring for aye All else let us forget | U |
Robert William Service
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