The Swamp Fox Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH IJIJKBKB LMLMNFNF DODOPQRQ STSTUVUV KWKXYKYK ZKA2KKB2KB2 C2GC2G RKRK ABABKDKD

WE follow where the Swamp Fox guidesA
His friends and merry men are weB
And when the troop of Tarleton ridesA
We burrow in the cypress treeB
The turfy hammock is our bedC
Our home is in the red deer's denD
Our roof the tree top overheadC
For we are wild and hunted menD
-
We fly by day and shun its lightE
But prompt to strike the sudden blowF
We mount and start with early nightE
And through the forest track our foeF
And soon he hears our chargers leapG
The flashing saber blinds his eyesH
And ere he drives away his sleepG
And rushes from his camp he diesH
-
Free bridle bit good gallant steedI
That will not ask a kind caressJ
To swim the Santee at our needI
When on his heels the foemen pressJ
The true heart and the ready handK
The spirit stubborn to be freeB
The twisted bore the smiting brandK
And we are Marion's men you seeB
-
Now light the fire and cook the mealL
The last perhaps that we shall tasteM
I hear the Swamp Fox round us stealL
And that's a sign we move in hasteM
He whistles to the scouts and harkN
You hear his order calm and lowF
Come wave your torch across the darkN
And let us see the boys that goF
-
We may not see their forms againD
God help 'em should they find the strifeO
For they are strong and fearless menD
And make no coward terms for lifeO
They'll fight as long as Marion bidsP
And when he speaks the word to shyQ
Then not till then they turn their steedsR
Through thickening shade and swamp to flyQ
-
Now stir the fire and lie at easeS
The scouts are gone and on the brushT
I see the Colonel bend his kneesS
To take his slumbers too But hushT
He's praying comrades 't is not strangeU
The man that's fighting day by dayV
May well when night comes take a changeU
And down upon his knees to prayV
-
Break up that hoecake boys and handK
The sly and silent jug that 's thereW
I love not it should idly standK
When Marion's men have need of cheerX
'T is seldom that our luck affordsY
A stuff like this we just have quaffedK
And dry potatoes on our boardsY
May always call for such a draughtK
-
Now pile the brush and roll the logZ
Hard pillow but a soldier's headK
That's half the time in brake and bogA2
Must never think of softer bedK
The owl is hooting to the nightK
The cooter crawling o'er the bankB2
And in that pond the flashing lightK
Tells where the alligator sankB2
-
What 't is the signal start so soonC2
And through the Santee swamp so deepG
Without the aid of friendly moonC2
And we Heaven help us half asleepG
-
But courage comrades Marion leadsR
The Swamp Fox takes us out to nightK
So clear your swords and spur your steedsR
There's goodly chance I think of fightK
-
We follow where the Swamp Fox guidesA
We leave the swamp and cypress treeB
Our spurs are in our coursers' sidesA
And ready for the strife are weB
The Tory camp is now in sightK
And there he cowers within his denD
He hears our shouts he dreads the fightK
He fears and flies from Marion's menD

William Gilmore Simms



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