The Lion Hunt Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCBB DDBB EEFF GGHH IIJJ KKLL IIMM NNOO PPQQ RRSS CTUU| Mount mount for the hunting with musket and spear | A |
| Call our friends to the field for the Lion is near | A |
| Call Arend and Ekhard and Groepe to the spoor | B |
| Call Muller and Coetzer and Lucas Van Vuur | B |
| - | |
| Ride up Eildon Cleugh and blow loudly the bugle | C |
| Call Slinger and Allie and Dikkop and Dugal | C |
| And George with the elephant gun on his shoulder | B |
| In a perilous pinch none is better or bolder | B |
| - | |
| In the gorge of the glen lie the bones of my steed | D |
| And the hoofs of a heifer of fatherland's breed | D |
| But mount my brave boys if our rifles prove true | B |
| We'll soon make the spoiler his ravages rue | B |
| - | |
| Ho the Hottentot lads have discovered the track | E |
| To his den in the desert we'll follow him back | E |
| But tighten your girths and look well to your flints | F |
| For heavy and fresh are the villain's foot prints | F |
| - | |
| Through the rough rocky kloof into grey Huntly Glen | G |
| Past the wild olive clump where the wolf has his den | G |
| By the black eagle's rock at the foot of the fell | H |
| We have tracked him at length to the buffalo's well | H |
| - | |
| Now mark yonder brake where the blood hounds are howling | I |
| And hark that hoarse sound like the deep thunder growling | I |
| 'Tis his lair 'tis his voice from your saddles alight | J |
| He's at bay in the brushwood preparing for fight | J |
| - | |
| Leave the horses behind and be still every man | K |
| Let the Mullers and Rennies advance in the van | K |
| Keep fast in your ranks by the yell of yon hound | L |
| The savage I guess will be out with a bound | L |
| - | |
| He comes the tall jungle before him loud crashing | I |
| His mane bristled fiercely his fiery eyes flashing | I |
| With a roar of disdain he leaps forth in his wrath | M |
| To challenge the foe that dare 'leaguer his path | M |
| - | |
| He couches ay now we'll see mischief I dread | N |
| Quick level your rifles and aim at his head | N |
| Thrust forward the spears and unsheath every knife | O |
| St George he's upon us Now fire lads for life | O |
| - | |
| He's wounded but yet he'll draw blood ere he falls | P |
| Ha under his paw see Bezuidenhout sprawls | P |
| Now Diederik Christian right in the brain | Q |
| Plant each man his bullet Hurra he is slain | Q |
| - | |
| Bezuidenhout up man 'tis only a scratch | R |
| You were always a scamp and have met with your match | R |
| What a glorious lion what sinews what claws | S |
| And seven feet ten from the rump to the jaws | S |
| - | |
| His hide with the paws and the bones of his skull | C |
| With the spoils of the leopard and buffalo bull | T |
| We'll send to Sir Walter Now boys let us dine | U |
| And talk of our deeds o'er a flask of old wine | U |
Thomas Pringle
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Lion Hunt poem by Thomas Pringle
Rolf Smith, Colonel USAF (ret): I was recently hunting in South Africa owned by Andrew Pringle. One evening we talked about his family’s history there. Over a glass of wine he shared The Lion Hunt with me - Thomas Pringle was one of his forefathers who had led a group of Scots to the Western Cape and settled there in 1820. I met Andrew’s Parents, Alex and Barrie Pringle, and was invited for dinner at their home at Eliand - which was Thomas Pringle’s original homestead. There is a lovely small church on the farm and Thomas Pringle is buried there. My time there was magical.
Best Poems of Thomas Pringle