"fighting Mac" Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBBD EFEFFGG HIHIIJK LMNMMFF OPOPPFF OQOQQRR ESESSOO TUTUUDD GOGOOVVA | |
In pitiful defeat a warrior lies | B |
A last defiance to dark Death is hurled | C |
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 | D |
- | |
Alone alone he paced his narrow room | E |
In the bright sunshine of that Paris day | F |
Saw in his thought the awful hand of doom | E |
Saw in his dream his glory pass away | F |
Tried in his heart his weary heart to pray | F |
O God who made me give me strength to face | G |
The spectre of this bitter black disgrace | G |
- | |
- | |
- | |
The burn brawls darkly down the shaggy glen | H |
The bee kissed heather blooms around the door | I |
He sees himself a barefoot boy again | H |
Bending o'er page of legendary lore | I |
He hears the pibroch grips the red claymore | I |
Runs with the Fiery Cross a clansman true | J |
Sworn kinsman of Rob Roy and Roderick Dhu | K |
- | |
Eating his heart out with a wild desire | L |
One day behind his counter trim and neat | M |
He hears a sound that sets his brain afire | N |
The Highlanders are marching down the street | M |
Oh how the pipes shrill out the mad drums beat | M |
On to the gates of Hell my Gordons gay | F |
He flings his hated yardstick away | F |
- | |
He sees the sullen pass high crowned with snow | O |
Where Afghans cower with eyes of gleaming hate | P |
He hurls himself against the hidden foe | O |
They try to rally ah too late too late | P |
Again defenseless with fierce eyes that wait | P |
For death he stands like baited bull at bay | F |
And flouts the Boers that mad Majuba day | F |
- | |
He sees again the murderous Soudan | O |
Blood slaked and rapine swept He seems to stand | Q |
Upon the gory plain of Omdurman | O |
Then Magersfontein and supreme command | Q |
Over his Highlanders To shake his hand | Q |
A King is proud and princes call him friend | R |
And glory crowns his life and now the end | R |
- | |
The awful end His eyes are dark with doom | E |
He hears the shrapnel shrieking overhead | S |
He sees the ravaged ranks the flame stabbed gloom | E |
Oh to have fallen the battle field his bed | S |
With Wauchope and his glorious brother dead | S |
Why was he saved for this for this And now | O |
He raises the revolver to his brow | O |
- | |
- | |
- | |
In many a Highland home framed with rude art | T |
You'll find his portrait rough hewn stern and square | U |
It's graven in the Fuyam fellah's heart | T |
The Ghurka reads it at his evening prayer | U |
The raw lands know it where the fierce suns glare | U |
The Dervish fears it Honor to his name | D |
Who holds aloft the shield of England's fame | D |
- | |
Mourn for our hero men of Northern race | G |
We do not know his sin we only know | O |
His sword was keen He laughed death in the face | G |
And struck for Empire's sake a giant blow | O |
His arm was strong Ah well they learnt the foe | O |
The echo of his deeds is ringing yet | V |
Will ring for aye All else let us forget | V |
Robert William Service
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about "fighting Mac" poem by Robert William Service
Best Poems of Robert William Service