The Rowers Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBC DEFE GHGH IJKJ LMLM LDND LOLO LLLL LPLP QRSR PITL| When Germany proposed that England should help her in a naval demonstration to collect debts from Venezuela | A |
| - | |
| - | |
| The banked oars fell an hundred strong | B |
| And backed and threshed and ground | C |
| But bitter was the rowers' song | B |
| As they brought the war boat round | C |
| - | |
| They had no heart for the rally and roar | D |
| That makes the whale bath smoke | E |
| When the great blades cleave and hold and leave | F |
| As one on the racing stroke | E |
| - | |
| They sang What reckoning do you keep | G |
| And steer by what star | H |
| If we come unscathed from the Southern deep | G |
| To be wrecked on a Baltic bar | H |
| - | |
| quot Last night you swore our voyage was done | I |
| But seaward still we go | J |
| And you tell us now of a secret vow | K |
| You have made with an open foe | J |
| - | |
| quot That we must lie off a lightless coast | L |
| And houl and back and veer | M |
| At the will of the breed that have wrought us most | L |
| For a year and a year and a year | M |
| - | |
| quot There was never a shame in Christendie | L |
| They laid not to our door | D |
| And you say we must take the winter sea | N |
| And sail with them once more | D |
| - | |
| quot Look South The gale is scarce o'erpast | L |
| That stripped and laid us down | O |
| When we stood forth but they stood fast | L |
| And prayed to see us drown | O |
| - | |
| quot Our dead they mocked are scarcely cold | L |
| Our wounds are bleeding yet | L |
| And you tell us now that our strength is sold | L |
| To help them press for a debt | L |
| - | |
| quot 'Neath all the flags of all mankind | L |
| That use upon the seas | P |
| Was there no other fleet to find | L |
| That you strike bands with these | P |
| - | |
| quot Of evil times that men can choose | Q |
| On evil fate to fall | R |
| What brooding Judgment let you loose | S |
| To pick the worst of all | R |
| - | |
| quot In sight of peace from the Narrow Seas | P |
| O'er half the world to run | I |
| With a cheated crew to league anew | T |
| With the Goth and the shameless Hun quot | L |
Rudyard Kipling
(1)
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About The Rowers
The Rowers is a poem by Rudyard Kipling. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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