The Wife Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCB DCDCEC FCFCGC HBHBHB IJIJCK LBLBMB NONOPO QCQCRCOBOBST ST FCFCUCTell Annie I'll be home in time | A |
To help her with her Christmas tree | B |
That's what he wrote and hark the chime | A |
Of Christmas bells and where is he | B |
And how the house is dark and sad | C |
And Annie's sobbing on my knee | B |
- | |
The page beside the candle flame | D |
With cruel type was overfilled | C |
I read and read until a name | D |
Leapt at me and my heart was stilled | C |
My eye crept up the column up | E |
Unto its hateful heading Killed | C |
- | |
And there was Annie on the stair | F |
And will he not be long she said | C |
Her eyes were bright and in her hair | F |
She'd twined a bit of riband red | C |
And every step was daddy's sure | G |
Till tired out she went to bed | C |
- | |
And there alone I sat so still | H |
With staring eyes that did not see | B |
The room was desolate and chill | H |
And desolate the heart of me | B |
Outside I heard the news boys shrill | H |
Another Glorious Victory | B |
- | |
A victory Ah what care I | I |
A thousand victories are vain | J |
Here in my ruined home I cry | I |
From out my black despair and pain | J |
I'd rather rather damned defeat | C |
And have my man with me again | K |
- | |
They talk to us of pride and power | L |
Of Empire vast beyond the sea | B |
As here beside my hearth I cower | L |
What mean such words as these to me | B |
Oh will they lift the clouds that low'r | M |
Or light my load in years to be | B |
- | |
What matters it to us poor folk | N |
Who win or lose it's we who pay | O |
Oh I would laugh beneath the yoke | N |
If I had him at home to day | O |
One's home before one's country comes | P |
Aye so a million women say | O |
- | |
Hush Annie dear don't sorrow so | Q |
How can I tell her See we'll light | C |
With tiny star of purest glow | Q |
Each little candle pink and white | C |
They make mistakes I'll tell myself | R |
I did not read that name aright | C |
Come dearest one come let us pray | O |
Beside our gleaming Christmas tree | B |
Just fold your little hands and say | O |
These words so softly after me | B |
God pity mothers in distress | S |
And little children fatherless | T |
- | |
God pity mothers in distress | S |
And little children fatherless | T |
- | |
- | |
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What's that a step upon the stair | F |
A shout the door thrown open wide | C |
My hero and my man is there | F |
And Annie's leaping by his side | C |
The room reels round I faint I fall | U |
O God Thy world is glorified | C |
Robert William Service
(1)
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