Lieutenant-colonel Flare Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFGFGHGI JKJKGLGL AMAMGNGN OPOPOGOG PQPQJRJR CPCPASAS GAGATUAU APAPPGPG JGJGJGJG VWVWACAC APAPCDCD

The earth has armies plentyA
And semi warlike bandsB
I dare say there are twentyA
In European landsB
But oh in no directionC
You'd find one to compareD
In brotherly affectionC
With that of COLONEL FLARED
-
His soldiers might be ratedE
As military PearlsF
As unsophisticatedG
As pretty little girlsF
They never smoked or rattedG
Or talked of Sues or PollsH
The Sergeant Major tattedG
The others nursed their dollsI
-
He spent his days in teachingJ
These truly solemn factsK
There's little use in preachingJ
Or circulating tractsK
The vainest plan inventedG
For stifling other creedsL
Unless it's supplementedG
With charitable DEEDSL
-
He taught his soldiers kindlyA
To give at Hunger's callM
Oh better far give blindlyA
Than never give at allM
Though sympathy be kindledG
By Imposition's gameN
Oh better far be swindledG
Than smother up its flameN
-
His means were far from ampleO
For pleasure or for dressP
Yet note this bright exampleO
Of single heartednessP
Though ranking as a ColonelO
His pay was but a groatG
While their reward diurnalO
Was each a five pound noteG
-
Moreover this evincesP
His kindness you'll allowQ
He fed them all like princesP
And lived himself on cowQ
He set them all regalingJ
On curious wines and dearR
While he would sit pale ale ingJ
Or quaffing ginger beerR
-
Then at his instigationC
A pretty fancy thisP
Their daily pay and rationC
He'd take in change for hisP
They brought it to him weeklyA
And he without a groanS
Would take it from them meeklyA
And give them all his ownS
-
Though not exactly knightedG
As knights of course should beA
Yet no one so delightedG
In harmless chivalryA
If peasant girl or ladyeT
Beneath misfortunes sankU
Whate'er distinctions made heA
They were not those of rankU
-
No maiden young and comelyA
Who wanted good adviceP
However poor or homelyA
Need ask him for it twiceP
He'd wipe away the blindnessP
That comes of teary dewG
His sympathetic kindnessP
No sort of limit knewG
-
He always hated dealingJ
With men who schemed or plannedG
A person harsh unfeelingJ
The Colonel could not standG
He hated cold suspectingJ
Official men in blueG
Who pass their lives detectingJ
The crimes that others doG
-
For men who'd shoot a sparrowV
Or immolate a wormW
Beneath a farmer's harrowV
He could not find a termW
Humanely ay and knightlyA
He dealt with such an oneC
He took and tied him tightlyA
And blew him from a gunC
-
The earth has armies plentyA
And semi warlike bandsP
I'm certain there are twentyA
In European landsP
But oh in no directionC
You'd find one to compareD
In brotherly affectionC
With that of COLONEL FLARED

William Schwenck Gilbert



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