The Clerks And The Bells Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF CCGHCC CCHHII HHJJHH KKLLCCHH| The merry clerks of Oxenford they stretch themselves at ease | A |
| Unhelmeted on unbleached sward beneath unshrivelled trees | A |
| For the leaves the leaves are on the bough the bark is on the bole | B |
| And East and West men's housen stand all even roofed and whole | B |
| Men's housen doored and glazed and floored and whole at every turn | C |
| And so the Bells of Oxenford ring Time it is to learn | C |
| - | |
| The merry clerks of Oxenford they read and they are told | D |
| Of famous men who drew the sword in furious fights of old | D |
| They heark and mark it faithfully but never clerk will write | E |
| What vision rides 'twixt book and eye from any nearer fight | E |
| Whose supplication rends the soul Whose night long cries repeat | F |
| And so the Bells of Oxenford ring Time it is to eat | F |
| - | |
| The merry clerks of Oxenford they sit them down anon | C |
| At tables fair with silver ware and naperies thereon | C |
| Free to refuse or dainty choose what dish shall seem them good | G |
| For they have done with single meats and waters streaked with blood | H |
| That three days' fast is overpast when all those guns said Nay | C |
| And so the Bells of Oxenford ring Time it is to play | C |
| - | |
| The merry clerks of Oxenford they hasten one by one | C |
| Or band in companies abroad to ride or row or run | C |
| By waters level with fair meads all goldenly bespread | H |
| Where flash June's clashing dragon flies but no man bows his head | H |
| Though bullet wise June's dragon flies deride the fearless air | I |
| And so the Bells of Oxenford ring Time it is for prayer | I |
| - | |
| The pious clerks of Oxenford they kneel at twilight tide | H |
| For to receive and well believe the Word of Him Who died | H |
| And though no present wings of Death hawk hungry round that place | J |
| Their brows are bent upon their hands that none may see their face | J |
| Who set aside the world and died What life shall please Him best | H |
| And so the Bells of Oxenford ring Time it is to rest | H |
| - | |
| The merry clerks of Oxenford lie under bolt and bar | K |
| Lest they should rake the midnight clouds or chase a sliding star | K |
| In fear of fine and dread rebuke they round their full night sleep | L |
| And leave that world which once they took for older men to keep | L |
| Who walks by dreams what ghostly wood in search of play mate slain | C |
| Until the Bells of Oxenford ring in the light again | C |
| Unburdened breeze unstricken trees and all God's works restored | H |
| In this way live the merry clerks the clerks of Oxenford | H |
Rudyard Kipling
(1)
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About The Clerks And The Bells
The Clerks And The Bells is a poem by Rudyard Kipling. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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