Kathleen Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEBB FFGGDDHHIIJJKK LLMMLLNNKKOO PPIILLNNCC QQPPLLRRLL LLBBLLSS LLBBDDOOLLKK| It was the steamer Alice May that sailed the Yukon foam | A |
| And touched in every river camp from Dawson down to Nome | A |
| It was her builder owner pilot Captain Silas Geer | B |
| Who took her through the angry ice the last boat of the year | B |
| Who patched her cracks with gunny sacks and wound her pipes with wire | C |
| And cut the spruce upon the banks to feed her boiler fire | C |
| Who headed her into the stream and bucked its mighty flow | D |
| And nosed her up the little creeks where no one else would go | D |
| Who bragged she had so small a draft if dew were on the grass | E |
| With gallant heart and half a start his little boat would pass | E |
| Aye ships might come and ships might go but steady every year | B |
| The Alice May would chug away with Skipper Silas Geer | B |
| - | |
| Now though Cap geer had ne'er a fear the devil he could bilk | F |
| He owned a gastric ulcer and his grub was mostly milk | F |
| He also owned a Jersey cow to furnish him the same | G |
| So soft and sleek and mild and meek and Kathleen was her name | G |
| And so his source of nourishment he got to love her so | D |
| That everywhere the captain went the cow would also go | D |
| And though his sleeping quarters were ridiculously small | H |
| He roped a section of them off to make Kathleen a stall | H |
| So every morn she'd wake him up with mellifluous moo | I |
| And he would pat her on the nose and go to wake the crew | I |
| Then when he'd done his daily run and hitched on to the bank | J |
| She'd breath above his pillow till to soothing sleep he sank | J |
| So up and down the river seeded sourdoughs would allow | K |
| They made a touching tableau Captain Silas and his cow | K |
| - | |
| Now as the Captain puffed his pipe and Kathleen chewed her cud | L |
| There came to him a poetess a Miss Belinda Budd | L |
| An epic I would write said she about this mighty stream | M |
| And from your gallant bark 'twould be romantic as a dream | M |
| Somewhat amazed the Captain gazed at her and shook his head | L |
| I'm sorry Miss but we don't take she passengers he said | L |
| My boat's a freighter we have no accommodation space | N |
| For women folk my cabin is the only private palce | N |
| It's eight foot small from wall to wall and I have anyhow | K |
| No room to spare for half I share with Kathleen That's my cow | K |
| The lady sighed then soft replied I love your Yukon scene | O |
| And for its sake your room I'll take and put up with Kathleen | O |
| - | |
| Well she was so dead set to go the Captain said By heck | P |
| I like your spunk you take my bunk and I'll camp on the deck | P |
| So days went by then with a sigh she sought him so anew | I |
| Oh Captain Geer Kathleen's a dear but does she have to moo | I |
| In early morn like motor horn she bellows overhead | L |
| While all the night without respite she snores above my bed | L |
| I know it's true she dotes on you your smile she seems to miss | N |
| She leans so near I live in fear my brow she'll try to kiss | N |
| Her fond regard makes it so hard my Pegasus to spur | C |
| Oh please be kind and try to find another place for her | C |
| - | |
| Bereft of cheer was captain Geer his face was glazed with gloom | Q |
| He scratched his head There ain't he said another inch of room | Q |
| With freight we're packed it's stowed and stacked why even on the deck | P |
| There's seven salted sourdoughs and they're sleeping neck and neck | P |
| I'm sorry Miss that Kathleen's kiss has put your muse to flight | L |
| I realize her amber eyes abstract you when you write | L |
| I used to love them orbs above a shining down on me | R |
| And when she'd chew my whickers you can't calculate my glee | R |
| I ain't at all poetical but gosh I guess your plight | L |
| So I will try to plan what I can fix up for to night | L |
| - | |
| Thus while upon her berth the wan and weary Author Budd | L |
| Bewailed her fate Kathleen sedate above her chewed her cud | L |
| And as he sought with brain distraught a steady course to steer | B |
| Yet find a plan a worried man was Captain Silas Geer | B |
| Then suddenly alert was he he hollerred to his mate | L |
| Hi Patsy press our poetess to climb on deck and wait | L |
| Hip hip hooray Bid her be gay and never more despair | S |
| My search is crowned by heck I've found an answer to her prayer | S |
| - | |
| To Patsy's yell like glad gazelle came bounding Bardess Budd | L |
| No more forlorn with hope new born she faced the foaming flood | L |
| While down the stair with eager air was seen to disappear | B |
| Like one inspired by genius fired exultant Captain Geer | B |
| Then up he came with eye aflame and honest face aglow | D |
| And oh how loud he laughed as proud he led her down below | D |
| Now you may write by day or night upon our Yukon scene | O |
| For I he cried have clarified the problem of Kathleen | O |
| I thought a lot then like a shot the remedy I found | L |
| I jest unhitched her rope and switched the loving creature round | L |
| No more her moo will trouble you you'll sleep right restful now | K |
| Look Lady look I'm giving you the tail end of the cow | K |
Robert William Service
(1)
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