The Eviction Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEFCCGGBB HHIIJJCCKKLLMMNNOPQQ RRSSTTUUCCVVWWXXAAYZ CC| In early morning twilight raw and chill | A |
| Damp vapours brooding on the barren hill | A |
| Through miles of mire in steady grave array | B |
| Threescore well arm'd police pursue their way | B |
| Each tall and bearded man a rifle swings | C |
| And under each greatcoat a bayonet clings | C |
| The Sheriff on his sturdy cob astride | D |
| Talks with the chief who marches by their side | D |
| And creeping on behind them Paudeen Dhu | E |
| Pretends his needful duty much to rue | F |
| Six big boned labourers clad in common freize | C |
| Walk in the midst the Sheriff's staunch allies | C |
| Six crowbar men from distant county brought | G |
| Orange and glorying in their work 'tis thought | G |
| But wrongly churls of Catholics are they | B |
| And merely hired at half a crown a day | B |
| - | |
| The hamlet clustering on its hill is seen | H |
| A score of petty homesteads dark and mean | H |
| Poor always not despairing until now | I |
| Long used as well as poverty knows how | I |
| With life's oppressive trifles to contend | J |
| This day will bring its history to an end | J |
| Moveless and grim against the cottage walls | C |
| Lean a few silent men but someone calls | C |
| Far off and then a child 'without a stitch' | K |
| Runs out of doors flies back with piercing screech | K |
| And soon from house to house is heard the cry | L |
| Of female sorrow swelling loud and high | L |
| Which makes the men blaspheme between their teeth | M |
| Meanwhile o'er fence and watery field beneath | M |
| The little army moves through drizzling rain | N |
| A 'Crowbar' leads the Sheriff's nag the lane | N |
| Is enter'd and their plashing tramp draws near | O |
| One instant outcry holds its breath to hear | P |
| 'Halt ' at the doors they form in double line | Q |
| And ranks of polish'd rifles wetly shine | Q |
| - | |
| The Sheriff's painful duty must be done | R |
| He begs for quiet and the work's begun | R |
| The strong stand ready now appear the rest | S |
| Girl matron grandsire baby on the breast | S |
| And Rosy's thin face on a pallet borne | T |
| A motley concourse feeble and forlorn | T |
| One old man tears upon his wrinkled cheek | U |
| Stands trembling on a threshold tries to speak | U |
| But in defect of any word for this | C |
| Mutely upon the doorpost prints a kiss | C |
| Then passes out for ever Through the crowd | V |
| The children run bewilder'd wailing loud | V |
| Where needed most the men combine their aid | W |
| And last of all is Oona forth convey'd | W |
| Reclined in her accustom'd strawen chair | X |
| Her aged eyelids closed her thick white hair | X |
| Escaping from her cap she feels the chill | A |
| Looks round and murmurs then again is still | A |
| Now bring the remnants of each household fire | Y |
| On the wet ground the hissing coals expire | Z |
| And Paudeen Dhu with meekly dismal face | C |
| Receives the full possession of the place | C |
William Allingham
(4)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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