Piet Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCDEEFG HIHIJKJKLLFG MNMNBOOPQQFG ARARSTSUQQSS SMSMVSVSWWSS XAXAAOAOYMSS| I do not love my Empire's foes | A |
| Nor call 'em angels still | B |
| What is the sense of 'atin' those | A |
| 'Oom you are paid to kill | B |
| So barrin' all that foreign lot | C |
| Which only joined for spite | D |
| Myself I'd just as soon as not | C |
| Respect the man I fight | D |
| Ah there Piet 'is trousies to 'is knees | E |
| 'Is coat tails lyin' level in the bullet sprinkled breeze | E |
| 'E does not lose 'is rifle an' 'e does not lose 'is seat | F |
| I've known a lot o' people ride a dam' sight worse than Piet | G |
| - | |
| I've 'eard 'im cryin' from the ground | H |
| Like Abel's blood of old | I |
| An' skirmished out to look an' found | H |
| The beggar nearly cold | I |
| I've waited on till 'e was dead | J |
| Which couldn't 'elp 'im much | K |
| But many grateful things 'e 's said | J |
| To me for doin' such | K |
| Ah there Piet whose time 'as come to die | L |
| 'Is carcase past rebellion but 'is eyes inquirin' why | L |
| Though dressed in stolen uniform with badge o' rank complete | F |
| I've known a lot o' fellers go a dam' sight worse than Piet | G |
| - | |
| An' when there was n't aught to do | M |
| But camp and cattle guards | N |
| I've fought with 'im the 'ole day through | M |
| At fifteen 'undred yards | N |
| Long afternoons o' lyin' still | B |
| An' 'earin' as you lay | O |
| The bullets swish from 'ill to 'ill | O |
| Like scythes among the 'ay | P |
| Ah there Piet be'ind 'is stony kop | Q |
| With 'is Boer bread an' biltong an' 'is flask of awful Dop | Q |
| 'Is Mauser for amusement an' 'is pony for retreat | F |
| I've known a lot o' fellers shoot a dam' sight worse than Piet | G |
| - | |
| He's shoved 'is rifle 'neath my nose | A |
| Before I'd time to think | R |
| An' borrowed all my Sunday clo'es | A |
| An' sent me 'ome in pink | R |
| An' I 'ave crept Lord 'ow I've crept | S |
| On 'ands an' knees I've gone | T |
| And spoored and floored and caught and kept | S |
| An' sent him to Ceylon | U |
| Ah there Piet you've sold me many a pup | Q |
| When week on week alternate it was you an' me 'ands up | Q |
| But though I never made you walk man naked in the 'eat | S |
| I've known a lot of fellows stalk a dam' sight worse than Piet | S |
| - | |
| From Plewman's to Marabastad | S |
| From Ookiep to De Aar | M |
| Me an' my trusty friend 'ave 'ad | S |
| As you might say a war | M |
| But seein' what both parties done | V |
| Before 'e owned defeat | S |
| I ain't more proud of 'avin' won | V |
| Than I am pleased with Piet | S |
| Ah there Piet picked up be'ind the drive | W |
| The wonder wasn't 'ow 'e fought but 'ow 'e kep' alive | W |
| With nothin' in 'is belly on 'is back or to 'is feet | S |
| I've known a lot o' men behave a dam' sight worse than Piet | S |
| - | |
| No more I'll 'ear 'is rifle crack | X |
| Along the block'ouse fence | A |
| The beggar's on the peaceful tack | X |
| Regardless of expense | A |
| For countin' what 'e eats an' draws | A |
| An' gifts an' loans as well | O |
| 'E's gettin' 'alf the Earth because | A |
| 'E didn't give us 'Ell | O |
| Ah there Piet with your brand new English plough | Y |
| Your gratis tents an' cattle an' your most ungrateful frow | M |
| You've made the British taxpayer rebuild your country seat | S |
| I've known some pet battalions charge a dam' sight less than Piet | S |
Rudyard Kipling
(3)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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