Pity For Poor Africans Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFF GHII JKLL MMNN OOH PQR OOSS DDT UUVV| I own I am shocked at the purchase of slaves | A |
| And fear those who buy them and sell them are knaves | A |
| What I hear of their hardships their tortures and groans | B |
| Is almost enough to draw pity from stones | B |
| - | |
| I pity them greatly but I must be mum | C |
| For how could we do without sugar and rum | C |
| Especially sugar so needful we see | D |
| What give up our desserts our coffee and tea | D |
| - | |
| Besides if we do the French Dutch and Danes | E |
| Will heartily thank us no doubt for our pains | E |
| If we do not buy the poor creatures they will | F |
| And tortures and groans will be multiplied still | F |
| - | |
| If foreigners likewise would give up the trade | G |
| Much more in behalf of your wish might be said | H |
| But while they got riches by purchasing blacks | I |
| Pray tell me why we may not also go snacks | I |
| - | |
| Your scruples and arguments bring to my mind | J |
| A story so pat you may think it is coined | K |
| On purpose to answer you out of my mint | L |
| But I can assure you I saw it in print | L |
| - | |
| A youngster at school more sedate than the rest | M |
| Had once his integrity put to the test | M |
| His comrades had plotted an orchard to rob | N |
| And asked him to go and assist in the job | N |
| - | |
| He was shocked sir like you and answered 'Oh no | O |
| What rob our good neighbour I pray you don't go | O |
| Besides the man's poor his orchard's his bread | H |
| Then think of his children for they must be fed ' | - |
| - | |
| 'You speak very fine and you look very grave | P |
| But apples we want and apples we'll have | Q |
| If you will go with us you shall have a share | R |
| If not you shall have neither apple nor pear ' | - |
| - | |
| They spoke and Tom pondered 'I see they will go | O |
| Poor man what a pity to injure him so | O |
| Poor man I would save him his fruit if I could | S |
| But staying behind will do him no good | S |
| - | |
| 'If the matter depended alone upon me | D |
| His apples might hang till they dropped from the tree | D |
| But since they will take them I think I'll go too | T |
| He will lose none by me though I get a few ' | - |
| - | |
| His scruples thus silenced Tom felt more at ease | U |
| And went with his comrades the apples to seize | U |
| He blamed and protested but joined in the plan | V |
| He shared in the plunder but pitied the man | V |
William Cowper
(1)
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