Little Oliver Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD CECE DCDC FGFG CHCA CFCF IJIJ KLKL FMFM NONO F NNNNNNPPNP DFDF CDCD QPQL FRFR ASAS AFAF QHQH AAAA NFNF ATAT QFQF ADAD UFUFEARL JOYCE he was a kind old party | A |
Whom nothing ever could put out | B |
Though eighty two he still was hearty | A |
Excepting as regarded gout | B |
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He had one unexampled daughter | C |
The LADY MINNIE HAHA JOYCE | D |
Fair MINNIE HAHA Laughing Water | C |
So called from her melodious voice | D |
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By Nature planned for lover capture | C |
Her beauty every heart assailed | E |
The good old nobleman with rapture | C |
Observed how widely she prevailed | E |
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Aloof from all the lordly flockings | D |
Of titled swells who worshipped her | C |
There stood in pumps and cotton stockings | D |
One humble lover OLIVER | C |
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He was no peer by Fortune petted | F |
His name recalled no bygone age | G |
He was no lordling coronetted | F |
Alas he was a simple page | G |
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With vain appeals he never bored her | C |
But stood in silent sorrow by | H |
He knew how fondly he adored her | C |
And knew alas how hopelessly | A |
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Well grounded by a village tutor | C |
In languages alive and past | F |
He'd say unto himself Knee suitor | C |
Oh do not go beyond your last | F |
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But though his name could boast no handle | I |
He could not every hope resign | J |
As moths will hover round a candle | I |
So hovered he about her shrine | J |
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The brilliant candle dazed the moth well | K |
One day she sang to her Papa | L |
The air that MARIE sings with BOTHWELL | K |
In NEIDERMEYER'S opera | L |
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Therein a stable boy it's stated | F |
Devoutly loved a noble dame | M |
Who ardently reciprocated | F |
His rather injudicious flame | M |
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And then before the piano closing | N |
He listened coyly at the door | O |
She sang a song of her composing | N |
I give one verse from half a score | O |
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BALLAD | F |
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Why pretty page art ever sighing | N |
Is sorrow in thy heartlet lying | N |
Come set a ringing | N |
Thy laugh entrancing | N |
And ever singing | N |
And ever dancing | N |
Ever singing Tra la la | P |
Ever dancing Tra la la | P |
Ever singing ever dancing | N |
Ever singing Tra la la | P |
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He skipped for joy like little muttons | D |
He danced like Esmeralda's kid | F |
She did not mean a boy in buttons | D |
Although he fancied that she did | F |
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Poor lad convinced he thus would win her | C |
He wore out many pairs of soles | D |
He danced when taking down the dinner | C |
He danced when bringing up the coals | D |
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He danced and sang however laden | Q |
With his incessant Tra la la | P |
Which much surprised the noble maiden | Q |
And puzzled even her Papa | L |
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He nourished now his flame and fanned it | F |
He even danced at work below | R |
The upper servants wouldn't stand it | F |
And BOWLES the butler told him so | R |
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At length on impulse acting blindly | A |
His love he laid completely bare | S |
The gentle Earl received him kindly | A |
And told the lad to take a chair | S |
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Oh sir the suitor uttered sadly | A |
Don't give your indignation vent | F |
I fear you think I'm acting madly | A |
Perhaps you think me insolent | F |
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The kindly Earl repelled the notion | Q |
His noble bosom heaved a sigh | H |
His fingers trembled with emotion | Q |
A tear stood in his mild blue eye | H |
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For oh the scene recalled too plainly | A |
The half forgotten time when he | A |
A boy of nine had worshipped vainly | A |
A governess of forty three | A |
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My boy he said in tone consoling | N |
Give up this idle fancy do | F |
The song you heard my daughter trolling | N |
Did not indeed refer to you | F |
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I feel for you poor boy acutely | A |
I would not wish to give you pain | T |
Your pangs I estimate minutely | A |
I too have loved and loved in vain | T |
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But still your humble rank and station | Q |
For MINNIE surely are not meet | F |
He said much more in conversation | Q |
Which it were needless to repeat | F |
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Now I'm prepared to bet a guinea | A |
Were this a mere dramatic case | D |
The page would have eloped with MINNIE | A |
But no he only left his place | D |
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The simple Truth is my detective | U |
With me Sensation can't abide | F |
The Likely beats the mere Effective | U |
And Nature is my only guide | F |
William Schwenck Gilbert
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