Stellenbosh Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDEDFGDDDG HIHIJKLK MNMNOPQP RRRRSFFF TUTDRVRV FGDDDG| The general 'eard the firin' on the flank | A |
| An' 'e sent a mounted man to bring 'im back | B |
| The silly pushin' person's name an' rank | A |
| 'Oo'd dared to answer Brother Boer's attack | B |
| For there might 'ave been a serious engagement | C |
| An' 'e might 'ave wasted 'alf a dozen men | D |
| So 'e ordered 'im to stop 'is operations round the kopjes | E |
| An' 'e told 'im off before the Staff at ten | D |
| And it all goes into the laundry | F |
| But it never comes out in the wash | G |
| 'Ow we're sugared about by the old men | D |
| 'Eavy sterned amateur old men | D |
| That 'amper an' 'inder an' scold men | D |
| For fear o' Stellenbosh | G |
| - | |
| The General 'ad produced a great effect | H |
| The General 'ad the country cleared almost | I |
| The General 'ad no reason to expect | H |
| And the Boers 'ad us bloomin' well on toast | I |
| For we might 'ave crossed the drift before the twilight | J |
| Instead o' sitting down an' takin' root | K |
| But we was not allowed so the Boojers scooped the crowd | L |
| To the last survivin' bandolier an' boot | K |
| - | |
| The General saw the farm'ouse in 'is rear | M |
| With its stoep so nicely shaded from the sun | N |
| Sez 'e I'll pitch my tabernacle 'ere | M |
| An' 'e kept us muckin' round till 'e 'ad done | N |
| For 'e might 'ave caught the confluent pneumonia | O |
| From sleepin' in his gaiters in the dew | P |
| So 'e took a book an' dozed while the other columns closed | Q |
| And De Wet's commando out an' trickled through | P |
| - | |
| The General saw the mountain range ahead | R |
| With their 'elios showin' saucy on the 'eight | R |
| So 'e 'eld us to the level ground instead | R |
| An' telegraphed the Boojers would n't fight | R |
| For 'e might 'ave gone an' sprayed 'em with a pompom | S |
| Or 'e might 'ave slung a squadron out to see | F |
| But'e was n't takin' chances in them 'igh an' 'ostile kranzes | F |
| He was markin' time to earn a K C B | F |
| - | |
| The General got 'is decorations thick | T |
| The men that backed 'is lies could not complain | U |
| The Staff 'ad D S O 's till we was sick | T |
| An' the soldier 'ad the work to do again | D |
| For 'e might 'ave known the District was an 'otbed | R |
| Instead of 'andin' over upside down | V |
| To a man 'oo 'ad to fight 'alf a year to put it right | R |
| While the General went an' slandered 'im in town | V |
| - | |
| An' it all went into the laundry | F |
| But it never came out in the wash | G |
| We were sugared about by the old men | D |
| Panicky perishin' old men | D |
| That 'amper an' 'inder an' scold men | D |
| For fear o' Stellenbosh | G |
Rudyard Kipling
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Stellenbosh poem by Rudyard Kipling
Best Poems of Rudyard Kipling