Jolly Jack Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCE FGHIJKJK LMLMGMG LNLNOLOL P PQMKMK RSRSTLUL LKLMVSV LLLLNKNK| When fierce political debate | A |
| Throughout the isle was storming | B |
| And Rads attacked the throne and state | A |
| And Tories the reforming | B |
| To calm the furious rage of each | C |
| And right the land demented | D |
| Heaven sent us Jolly Jack to teach | C |
| The way to be contented | E |
| - | |
| Jack's bed was straw 'twas warm and soft | F |
| His chair a three legged stool | G |
| His broken jug was emptied oft | H |
| Yet somehow always full | I |
| His mistress' portrait decked the wall | J |
| His mirror had a crack | K |
| Yet gay and glad though this was all | J |
| His wealth lived Jolly Jack | K |
| - | |
| To give advice to avarice | L |
| Teach pride its mean condition | M |
| And preach good sense to dull pretence | L |
| Was honest Jack's high mission | M |
| Our simple statesman found his rule | G |
| Of moral in the flagon | M |
| And held his philosophic school | G |
| Beneath the 'George and Dragon ' | - |
| - | |
| When village Solons cursed the Lords | L |
| And called the malt tax sinful | N |
| Jack heeded not their angry words | L |
| But smiled and drank his skinful | N |
| And when men wasted health and life | O |
| In search of rank and riches | L |
| Jack marked aloof the paltry strife | O |
| And wore his threadbare breeches | L |
| - | |
| 'I enter not the church ' he said | P |
| But I'll not seek to rob it ' | - |
| So worthy Jack Joe Miller read | P |
| While others studied Cobbett | Q |
| His talk it was of feast and fun | M |
| His guide the Almanack | K |
| From youth to age thus gayly run | M |
| The life of Jolly Jack | K |
| - | |
| And when Jack prayed as oft he would | R |
| He humbly thanked his Maker | S |
| 'I am ' said he 'O Father good | R |
| Nor Catholic nor Quaker | S |
| Give each his creed let each proclaim | T |
| His catalogue of curses | L |
| I trust in Thee and not in them | U |
| In Thee and in Thy mercies | L |
| - | |
| 'Forgive me if midst all Thy works | L |
| No hint I see of damning | K |
| And think there's faith among the Turks | L |
| And hope for e'en the Brahmin | M |
| Harmless my mind is and my mirth | V |
| And kindly is my laughter | S |
| I cannot see the smiling earth | V |
| And think there's hell hereafter ' | - |
| - | |
| Jack died he left no legacy | L |
| Save that his story teaches | L |
| Content to peevish poverty | L |
| Humility to riches | L |
| Ye scornful great ye envious small | N |
| Come follow in his track | K |
| We all were happier if we all | N |
| Would copy JOLLY JACK | K |
William Makepeace Thackeray
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