At A Pantomime. By A Bilious One Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH ICIC JKJK LMLM NONO PQPQ RORO STST CDCD UVUV IWIW TXYZ ISIS A2IA2IAn Actor sits in doubtful gloom | A |
His stock in trade unfurled | B |
In a damp funereal dressing room | A |
In the Theatre Royal World | B |
- | |
He comes to town at Christmas time | C |
And braves its icy breath | D |
To play in that favourite pantomime | C |
HARLEQUIN LIFE AND DEATH | D |
- | |
A hoary flowing wig his weird | E |
Unearthly cranium caps | F |
He hangs a long benevolent beard | E |
On a pair of empty chaps | F |
- | |
To smooth his ghastly features down | G |
The actor's art he cribs | H |
A long and a flowing padded gown | G |
Bedecks his rattling ribs | H |
- | |
He cries Go on begin begin | I |
Turn on the light of lime | C |
I'm dressed for jolly Old Christmas in | I |
A favourite pantomime | C |
- | |
The curtain's up the stage all black | J |
Time and the year nigh sped | K |
Time as an advertising quack | J |
The Old Year nearly dead | K |
- | |
The wand of Time is waved and lo | L |
Revealed Old Christmas stands | M |
And little children chuckle and crow | L |
And laugh and clap their hands | M |
- | |
The cruel old scoundrel brightens up | N |
At the death of the Olden Year | O |
And he waves a gorgeous golden cup | N |
And bids the world good cheer | O |
- | |
The little ones hail the festive King | P |
No thought can make them sad | Q |
Their laughter comes with a sounding ring | P |
They clap and crow like mad | Q |
- | |
They only see in the humbug old | R |
A holiday every year | O |
And handsome gifts and joys untold | R |
And unaccustomed cheer | O |
- | |
The old ones palsied blear and hoar | S |
Their breasts in anguish beat | T |
They've seen him seventy times before | S |
How well they know the cheat | T |
- | |
They've seen that ghastly pantomime | C |
They've felt its blighting breath | D |
They know that rollicking Christmas time | C |
Meant Cold and Want and Death | D |
- | |
Starvation Poor Law Union fare | U |
And deadly cramps and chills | V |
And illness illness everywhere | U |
And crime and Christmas bills | V |
- | |
They know Old Christmas well I ween | I |
Those men of ripened age | W |
They've often often often seen | I |
That Actor off the stage | W |
- | |
They see in his gay rotundity | T |
A clumsy stuffed out dress | X |
They see in the cup he waves on high | Y |
A tinselled emptiness | Z |
- | |
Those aged men so lean and wan | I |
They've seen it all before | S |
They know they'll see the charlatan | I |
But twice or three times more | S |
- | |
And so they bear with dance and song | A2 |
And crimson foil and green | I |
They wearily sit and grimly long | A2 |
For the Transformation Scene | I |
William Schwenck Gilbert
(1)
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