The Demon-ship Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEEFF GGHHIIJJ EEKKHHLLMMNN OOPPQQRR BBSSTTBBUUEE VVWWUU XXYYZZUU A2A2UUB2B2YYUU| 'Twas off the Wash the sun went down the sea look'd black and grim | A |
| For stormy clouds with murky fleece were mustering at the brim | A |
| Titanic shades enormous gloom as if the solid night | B |
| Of Erebus rose suddenly to seize upon the light | B |
| It was a time for mariners to bear a wary eye | C |
| With such a dark conspiracy between the sea and sky | C |
| - | |
| Down went my helm close reef'd the tack held freely in my hand | D |
| With ballast snug I put about and scudded for the land | D |
| Loud hiss'd the sea beneath her lee my little boat flew fast | E |
| But faster still the rushing storm came borne upon the blast | E |
| Lord what a roaring hurricane beset the straining sail | F |
| What furious sleet with level drift and fierce assaults of hail | F |
| - | |
| What darksome caverns yawn'd before what jagged steeps behind | G |
| Like battle steeds with foamy manes wild tossing in the wind | G |
| Each after each sank down astern exhausted in the chase | H |
| But where it sank another rose and galloped in its place | H |
| As black as night they turned to white and cast against the cloud | I |
| A snowy sheet as if each surge upturned a sailor's shroud | I |
| Still flew my boat alas alas her course was nearly run | J |
| Behold yon fatal billow rise ten billows heap'd in one | J |
| - | |
| With fearful speed the dreary mass came rolling rolling fast | E |
| As if the scooping sea contain'd one only wave at last | E |
| Still on it came with horrid roar a swift pursuing grave | K |
| It seem'd as though some cloud had turned its hugeness to a wave | K |
| Its briny sleet began to beat beforehand in my face | H |
| I felt the rearward keel begin to climb its swelling base | H |
| I saw its alpine hoary head impending over mine | L |
| Another pulse and down it rush'd an avalanche of brine | L |
| Brief pause had I on God to cry or think of wife and home | M |
| The waters clos'd and when I shriek'd I shriek'd below the foam | M |
| Beyond that rush I have no hint of any after deed | N |
| For I was tossing on the waste as senseless as a weed | N |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| Where am I in the breathing world or in the world of death | O |
| With sharp and sudden pang I drew another birth of breath | O |
| My eyes drank in a doubtful light my ears a doubtful sound | P |
| And was that ship a real ship whose tackle seem'd around | P |
| A moon as if the earthly moon was shining up aloft | Q |
| But were those beams the very beams that I had seen so oft | Q |
| A face that mock'd the human face before me watch'd alone | R |
| But were those eyes the eyes of man that look'd against my own | R |
| - | |
| Oh never may the moon again disclose me such a sight | B |
| As met my gaze when first I look'd on that accursed night | B |
| I've seen a thousand horrid shapes begot of fierce extremes | S |
| Of fever and most frightful things have haunted in my dreams | S |
| Hyenas cats blood loving bats and apes with hateful stare | T |
| Pernicious snakes and shaggy bulls the lion and she bear | T |
| Strong enemies with Judas looks of treachery and spite | B |
| Detested features hardly dimm'd and banish'd by the light | B |
| Pale sheeted ghosts with gory locks upstarting from their tombs | U |
| All phantasies and images that flit in midnight glooms | U |
| Hags goblins demons lemures have made me all aghast | E |
| But nothing like that GRIMLY ONE who stood beside the mast | E |
| - | |
| His cheek was black his brow was black his eyes and hair as dark | V |
| His hand was black and where it touch'd it left a sable mark | V |
| His throat was black his vest the same and when I look'd beneath | W |
| His breast was black all all was black except his grinning teeth | W |
| His sooty crew were like in hue as black as Afric slaves | U |
| Oh horror e'en the ship was black that plough'd the inky waves | U |
| - | |
| Alas I cried for love of truth and blessed mercy's sake | X |
| Where am I in what dreadful ship upon what dreadful lake | X |
| What shape is that so very grim and black as any coal | Y |
| It is Mahound the Evil One and he has gain'd my soul | Y |
| Oh mother dear my tender nurse dear meadows that beguil'd | Z |
| My happy days when I was yet a little sinless child | Z |
| My mother dear my native fields I never more shall see | U |
| I'm sailing in the Devil's Ship upon the Devil's Sea | U |
| - | |
| Loud laugh'd that SABLE MARINER and loudly in return | A2 |
| His sooty crew sent forth a laugh that rang from stem to stern | A2 |
| A dozen pair of grimly cheeks were crumpled on the nonce | U |
| As many sets of grinning teeth came shining out at once | U |
| A dozen gloomy shapes at once enjoy'd the merry fit | B2 |
| With shriek and yell and oaths as well like Demons of the Pit | B2 |
| They crow'd their fill and then the Chief made answer for the whole | Y |
| Our skins said he are black ye see because we carry coal | Y |
| You'll find your mother sure enough and see your native fields | U |
| For this here ship has pick'd you up the Mary Ann of Shields | U |
Thomas Hood
(1)
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About The Demon-ship
The Demon-ship is a poem by Thomas Hood. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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