The Clerks And The Bells Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF CCGHCC CCHHII HHJJHH KKLLCCHHThe 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
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