The Currency Lass Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCDEFEFGHGHIJIJ KLKMNONPQRSRTUTUVWVW XKXLYZYZXLXFA2B2A2B2 XMXLC2DC2D| THEY marshalled her lovers four and four | A |
| A drum at their heads in the days of old | B |
| O none could have guessed their hearts were sore | A |
| They marched with such gayness in scarlet and gold | B |
| They came to the dance place on the hill | C |
| Where Death was the piper he pipes full well | D |
| They grounded their arms and stood stock still | C |
| And just why he sorrowed no one would tell | D |
| O some had been wed in distant lands | E |
| And sweethearts had others but let that pass | F |
| She held them at ease in snow white hands | E |
| For Queen over all was the Currency Lass | F |
| They ushered her forth in all her charms | G |
| Her eyes were alight and as gold her hair | H |
| She looked on the men and oped her arms | G |
| What wonder if then they had wished them there | H |
| She hearkened the Preacher thin and pale | I |
| His voice was as frost yet his words were wise | J |
| But sin on the soul is like wrought mail | I |
| And only a scorn of him fired her eyes | J |
| 'O sorrow and pray the hour draws nigh | K |
| The Lord in His justice shall question thee ' | L |
| The Preacher made prayer 'twixt sob and sigh | K |
| And down dropped his soul on bended knee | M |
| 'He fashioned thee fair' a sideways look | N |
| 'Red lipped and right royal to look upon | O |
| A joy of the Earth' his thin hands shook | N |
| And passionate lights in his deep eyes shone | P |
| In scarlet and gold her lovers stood | Q |
| A host under famine with heads out thrust | R |
| Keen flamed in the sun ran reddest blood | S |
| And lips that were thirsty grew dry as dust | R |
| They loved her for years their tangled souls | T |
| Like silvery fish in her beauty mesh | U |
| All breathless reposed A dull drum rolls | T |
| And Death is at hand for the Flower of Flesh | U |
| She lifted her head for one love word | V |
| Afar was a clamour of new come ships | W |
| Her hair in a cloud the low wind stirred | V |
| And silent they marvelled at her red lips | W |
| 'A lover was I from youth ' she said | X |
| 'And Love is my lord till I fill the grave' | K |
| Then coyly she drooped her gold haired head | X |
| 'Now last of my lovers a kiss I crave ' | L |
| The Preacher was whirled in passion's rout | Y |
| And dark was the stain on his soul's white snow | Z |
| Her lips were as life his soul leapt out | Y |
| And sure there was laughter in Hell below | Z |
| 'A singer was I these years ' she said | X |
| 'And so I must sing till my soul doth pass ' | L |
| Then forth from her sin sweet lips there sped | X |
| The long dead song of the Currency Lass | F |
| The hands of the spoiler touch her throat | A2 |
| The noon grows near and the last sands run | B2 |
| Still over the scene her wild words float | A2 |
| The noose is ready the song is done | B2 |
| 'A dancer I was from birth ' she said | X |
| 'A baby I danced on my mother's knee | M |
| Now whistle a jig with swaying head | X |
| And lovers of mine I will dance for ye ' | L |
| Stood each with a droop a cheated man | C2 |
| While Sorrow went weaving an ice cold spell | D |
| Good bye to the world The dance began | C2 |
| With Death for the piper he piped full well | D |
Roderic Quinn
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Currency Lass poem by Roderic Quinn
Best Poems of Roderic Quinn