The Swamp Fox Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH IJIJKBKB LMLMNFNF DODOPQRQ STSTUVUV KWKXYKYK ZKA2KKB2KB2 C2GC2G RKRK ABABKDKDWE follow where the Swamp Fox guides | A |
His friends and merry men are we | B |
And when the troop of Tarleton rides | A |
We burrow in the cypress tree | B |
The turfy hammock is our bed | C |
Our home is in the red deer's den | D |
Our roof the tree top overhead | C |
For we are wild and hunted men | D |
- | |
We fly by day and shun its light | E |
But prompt to strike the sudden blow | F |
We mount and start with early night | E |
And through the forest track our foe | F |
And soon he hears our chargers leap | G |
The flashing saber blinds his eyes | H |
And ere he drives away his sleep | G |
And rushes from his camp he dies | H |
- | |
Free bridle bit good gallant steed | I |
That will not ask a kind caress | J |
To swim the Santee at our need | I |
When on his heels the foemen press | J |
The true heart and the ready hand | K |
The spirit stubborn to be free | B |
The twisted bore the smiting brand | K |
And we are Marion's men you see | B |
- | |
Now light the fire and cook the meal | L |
The last perhaps that we shall taste | M |
I hear the Swamp Fox round us steal | L |
And that's a sign we move in haste | M |
He whistles to the scouts and hark | N |
You hear his order calm and low | F |
Come wave your torch across the dark | N |
And let us see the boys that go | F |
- | |
We may not see their forms again | D |
God help 'em should they find the strife | O |
For they are strong and fearless men | D |
And make no coward terms for life | O |
They'll fight as long as Marion bids | P |
And when he speaks the word to shy | Q |
Then not till then they turn their steeds | R |
Through thickening shade and swamp to fly | Q |
- | |
Now stir the fire and lie at ease | S |
The scouts are gone and on the brush | T |
I see the Colonel bend his knees | S |
To take his slumbers too But hush | T |
He's praying comrades 't is not strange | U |
The man that's fighting day by day | V |
May well when night comes take a change | U |
And down upon his knees to pray | V |
- | |
Break up that hoecake boys and hand | K |
The sly and silent jug that 's there | W |
I love not it should idly stand | K |
When Marion's men have need of cheer | X |
'T is seldom that our luck affords | Y |
A stuff like this we just have quaffed | K |
And dry potatoes on our boards | Y |
May always call for such a draught | K |
- | |
Now pile the brush and roll the log | Z |
Hard pillow but a soldier's head | K |
That's half the time in brake and bog | A2 |
Must never think of softer bed | K |
The owl is hooting to the night | K |
The cooter crawling o'er the bank | B2 |
And in that pond the flashing light | K |
Tells where the alligator sank | B2 |
- | |
What 't is the signal start so soon | C2 |
And through the Santee swamp so deep | G |
Without the aid of friendly moon | C2 |
And we Heaven help us half asleep | G |
- | |
But courage comrades Marion leads | R |
The Swamp Fox takes us out to night | K |
So clear your swords and spur your steeds | R |
There's goodly chance I think of fight | K |
- | |
We follow where the Swamp Fox guides | A |
We leave the swamp and cypress tree | B |
Our spurs are in our coursers' sides | A |
And ready for the strife are we | B |
The Tory camp is now in sight | K |
And there he cowers within his den | D |
He hears our shouts he dreads the fight | K |
He fears and flies from Marion's men | D |
William Gilmore Simms
(1)
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