A Tale. June 1793 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CCCC DCDC CCCC ECFC CCCC GCGC CHCH ICIC CCCC JCJC HCHC KLKM CNCN COCO PAPA DCDC QRQR STST ULVM

In Scotland's realm where trees are fewA
Nor even shrubs aboundB
But where however bleak the viewA
Some better things are foundB
-
For husband there and wife may boastC
Their union undefiledC
And false ones are as rare almostC
As hedge rows in the wildC
-
In Scotland's realm forlorn and bareD
The history chanced of lateC
This history of a wedded pairD
A chaffinch and his mateC
-
The spring drew near each felt a breastC
With genial instinct filledC
They paired and would have built a nestC
But found not where to buildC
-
The heaths uncovered and the moorsE
Except with snow and sleetC
Sea beaten rocks and naked shoresF
Could yield them no retreatC
-
Long time a breeding place they soughtC
Till both grew vexed and tiredC
At length a ship arriving broughtC
The good so long desiredC
-
A ship could such a restless thingG
Afford them place of restC
Or was the merchant charged to bringG
The homeless birds a nestC
-
Hush silent hearers profit mostC
This racer of the seaH
Proved kinder to them than the coastC
It served them with a treeH
-
But such a tree 'twas shaven dealI
The tree they call a mastC
And had a hollow with a wheelI
Through which the tackle passedC
-
Within that cavity aloftC
Their roofless home they fixedC
Formed with materials neat and softC
Bents wool and feathers mixedC
-
Four ivory eggs soon pave its floorJ
With russet specks bedightC
The vessel weighs forsakes the shoreJ
And lessens to the sightC
-
The mother bird is gone to seaH
As she had changed her kindC
But goes the male Far wiser heH
Is doubtless left behindC
-
No soon as from ashore he sawK
The winged mansion moveL
He flew to reach it by a lawK
Of never failing loveM
-
Then perching at his consort's sideC
Was briskly borne alongN
The billows and the blast defiedC
And cheered her with a songN
-
The seaman with sincere delightC
His feathered shipmates eyesO
Scarce less exulting in the sightC
Than when he tows a prizeO
-
For seamen much believe in signsP
And from a chance so newA
Each some approaching good divinesP
And may his hope be trueA
-
Hail honoured land a desert whereD
Not even birds can hideC
Yet parent of this loving pairD
Whom nothing could divideC
-
And ye who rather than resignQ
Your matrimonial planR
Were not afraid to plough the brineQ
In company with manR
-
For whose lean country much disdainS
We English often showT
Yet from a richer nothing gainS
But wantonness and woeT
-
Be it your fortune year by yearU
The same resource to proveL
And may ye sometimes landing hereV
Instruct us how to loveM

William Cowper



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