The Spies' March Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABC DEDEFGHGIG JGJGKGLGJJG CJCJGGGGJJGG GMGMGGGGG NONOPGPGG JGJGQGQGG RJRJJGJG| There are not leaders to lead us to honour and yet without leaders we sally | A |
| Each man reporting for duty alone out of sight out of reach of his fellow | B |
| There are no bugles to call the battalions and yet without bugle we rally | A |
| From the ends of the earth to the ends of the earth to follow the Standard of Yellow | B |
| Fall in O fall in O fall in | C |
| - | |
| Not where the squadrons mass | D |
| Not where the bayonets shine | E |
| Not where the big shell shout as they pass | D |
| Over the firing line | E |
| Not where the wounded are | F |
| Not where the nations die | G |
| Killed in the cleanly game of war | H |
| That is no place for a spy | G |
| O Princes Thrones and Powers your work is less than ours | I |
| Here is no place for a spy | G |
| - | |
| Trained to another use | J |
| We march with colours furled | G |
| Only concerned when Death breaks loose | J |
| On a front of half a world | G |
| Only for General Death | K |
| The Yellow Flag may fly | G |
| While we take post beneath | L |
| That is the place for a spy | G |
| Where Plague has spread his pinions | J |
| Over Nations and Dominions | J |
| Then will be work for a spy | G |
| - | |
| The dropping shots begin | C |
| The single funerals pass | J |
| Our skirmishers run in | C |
| The corpses dot the grass | J |
| The howling towns stampede | G |
| The tainted hamlets die | G |
| Now it is war indeed | G |
| Now there is room for a spy | G |
| O Peoples Kings and Lands | J |
| We are waiting your commands | J |
| What is the work for a spy | G |
| Drums Fear is upon us spy | G |
| - | |
| quot Go where his pickets hide | G |
| Unmask the shape they take | M |
| Whether a gnat from the waterside | G |
| Or a stinging fly in the brake | M |
| Or filth of the crowded street | G |
| Or a sick rat limping by | G |
| Or a smear of spittle dried in the heat | G |
| That is the work of a spy | G |
| Drums Death is upon us spy | G |
| - | |
| quot What does he next prepare | N |
| Whence will he move to attack | O |
| By water earth or air | N |
| How can we head him back | O |
| Shall we starve him out if we burn | P |
| Or bury his food supply | G |
| Slip through his lines and learn | P |
| That is work for a spy | G |
| Drums Get to your business spy | G |
| - | |
| quot Does he feint or strike in force | J |
| Will he charge or ambuscade | G |
| What is it checks his course | J |
| Is he beaten or only delayed | G |
| How long will the lull endure | Q |
| Is he retreating Why | G |
| Crawl to his camp and make sure | Q |
| That is the work for a spy | G |
| Drums Fetch us our answer spy | G |
| - | |
| quot Ride with him girth to girth | R |
| Wherever the Pale Horse wheels | J |
| Wait on his councils ear to earth | R |
| And say what the dust reveals | J |
| For the smoke of our torment rolls | J |
| Where the burning thousands lie | G |
| What do we care for men's bodies or souls | J |
| Bring us deliverance spy quot | G |
Rudyard Kipling
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Spies' March poem by Rudyard Kipling
Best Poems of Rudyard Kipling