The Little Sweep. (from The Villager's Verse-book.) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCC DDEE FFGG HIBB JJBB KKLL| WRITTEN FOR JAMES MONTGOMERY'S CHIMNEY SWEEPER'S ALBUM | A |
| - | |
| They sing of the poor sailor boy who wanders o'er the deep | B |
| But few there are who think upon the friendless little sweep | B |
| In darkness to his dreary toil through winter's frost and snows | C |
| When the keen north wind is piping shrill the shivering urchin goes | C |
| - | |
| He has no father and from grief his mother's eyes are dim | D |
| And none beside in all the world awakes to pray for him | D |
| For him no summer Sundays smile no health is in the breeze | E |
| His mind is dark as his face a prey to dire disease | E |
| - | |
| O English gentlemen your hearts have bled for the black slave | F |
| You heard his melancholy moan from the Atlantic wave | F |
| He thought upon his father's land and cried A long farewell | G |
| But blessed you gazing at the sun when first his fetters fell | G |
| - | |
| And if ye plead for creatures dumb and deem their fate severe | H |
| Shall human wrongs in your own land call forth no generous tear | I |
| Humanity implores awake from apathy's cold sleep | B |
| And when you plead for others' wrongs forget not the poor sweep | B |
| - | |
| When summer comes the bells shall ring and flowers and hawthorns blow | J |
| The village lasses and the lads shall all a Maying go | J |
| Kind hearted lady may thy soul in heaven a blessing reap | B |
| Whose bounty at that season flows to cheer the little sweep | B |
| - | |
| 'Tis yours ye English gentlemen such comforts to prolong | K |
| 'Tis yours the friendless to protect and all who suffer wrong | K |
| But one day in the toiling year the friendless sweep is gay | L |
| Protect and smiling industry shall make his long year May | L |
William Lisle Bowles
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About The Little Sweep. (from The Villager's Verse-book.)
The Little Sweep. (from The Villager's Verse-book.) is a poem by William Lisle Bowles. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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