The Colubriad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFFGHHIIFEJJK KLLMMNNOOPPQQRSTTQQM M| Close by the threshold of a door nailed fast | A |
| Three kittens sat each kitten looked aghast | A |
| I passing swift and inattentive by | B |
| At the three kittens cast a careless eye | B |
| Not much concerned to know what they did there | C |
| Not deeming kittens worth a poet's care | C |
| But presently a loud and furious hiss | D |
| Caused me to stop and to exclaim 'What's this ' | E |
| When lo upon the threshold met my view | F |
| With head erect and eyes of fiery hue | F |
| A viper long as Count de Grasse's quoue | G |
| Forth from his head his forked tongue he throws | H |
| Darting it full against a kitten's nose | H |
| Who having never seen in field or house | I |
| The like sat still and silent as a mouse | I |
| Only projecting with attention due | F |
| Her whiskered face she asked him 'Who are you ' | E |
| On to the hall went I with pace not slow | J |
| But swift as lightning for a long Dutch hoe | J |
| With which well armed I hastened to the spot | K |
| To find the viper but I found him not | K |
| And turning up the leaves and shrubs around | L |
| Formed only that he was not to be found | L |
| But still the kittens sitting as before | M |
| Sat watching close the bottom of the door | M |
| 'I hope ' said I 'the villain I would kill | N |
| Has slipped between the door and the door sill | N |
| And if I make despatch and follow hard | O |
| No doubt but I shall find him in the yard | O |
| For long ere now it should have been rehearsed | P |
| 'Twas in the garden that I found him first | P |
| Even there I found him there the full grown cat | Q |
| His head with velvet paw did gently pat | Q |
| As curious as the kittens erst had been | R |
| To learn what this phenomenon might mean | S |
| Filled with heroic ardour at the sight | T |
| And fearing every moment he would bite | T |
| And rob our household of our only cat | Q |
| That was of age to combat with a rat | Q |
| With outstretched hoe I slew him at the door | M |
| And taught him Never To Come There No More | M |
William Cowper
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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