The Old Superb Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCE FGHG DIDJKLKL FGHG MNM OPOP FGHG| The wind was rising easterly the morning sky was blue | A |
| The Straits before us opened wide and free | B |
| We looked towards the Admiral where high the Peter flew | A |
| And all our hearts were dancing like the sea | B |
| 'The French are gone to Martinique with four and twenty sail | C |
| The Old Superb is old and foul and slow | D |
| But the French are gone to Martinique and Nelson's on the trail | C |
| And where he goes the Old Superb must go ' | E |
| - | |
| So Westward ho for Trinidad and Eastward ho for Spain | F |
| And 'Ship ahoy ' a hundred times a day | G |
| Round the world if need be and round the world again | H |
| With a lame duck lagging all the way | G |
| - | |
| The Old Superb was barnacled and green as grass below | D |
| Her sticks were only fit for stirring grog | I |
| The pride of all her midshipmen was silent long ago | D |
| And long ago they ceased to heave the log | J |
| Four year out from home she was and ne'er a week in port | K |
| And nothing save the guns aboard her bright | L |
| But Captain Keats he knew the game and swore to share the sport | K |
| For he never yet came in too late to fight | L |
| - | |
| So Westward ho for Trinidad and Eastward ho for Spain | F |
| And 'Ship ahoy ' a hundred times a day | G |
| Round the world if need be and round the world again | H |
| With a lame duck lagging all the way | G |
| - | |
| 'Now up my lads ' the Captain cried 'for sure the case were hard | M |
| If longest out were first to fall behind | N |
| Aloft aloft with studding sails and lash them on the yard | M |
| For night and day the Trades are driving blind ' | - |
| So all day long and all day long behind the fleet we crept | O |
| And how we fretted none but Nelson guessed | P |
| But every night the Old Superb she sailed when others slept | O |
| Till we ran the French to earth with all the rest | P |
| - | |
| Oh 'twas Westward ho for Trinidad and Eastward ho for Spain | F |
| And 'Ship ahoy ' a hundred times a day | G |
| Round the world if need be and round the world again | H |
| With a lame duck lagging all the way | G |
Sir Henry Newbolt
(1)
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