Peter The Wag Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEFGCGC HIHIJKJK LMLMNONO PJPJQRQR CSCSTUTU VSVSWXYX ZA2ZA2HCHC VB2VB2HVHV C2HVVD2VA2V VE2VE2VVVV A2A2A2A2VVVVPOLICEMAN PETER FORTH I drag | A |
From his obscure retreat | B |
He was a merry genial wag | A |
Who loved a mad conceit | B |
If he were asked the time of day | C |
By country bumpkins green | D |
He not unfrequently would say | C |
A quarter past thirteen | D |
- | |
If ever you by word of mouth | E |
Inquired of MISTER FORTH | F |
The way to somewhere in the South | E |
He always sent you North | F |
With little boys his beat along | G |
He loved to stop and play | C |
He loved to send old ladies wrong | G |
And teach their feet to stray | C |
- | |
He would in frolic moments when | H |
Such mischief bent upon | I |
Take Bishops up as betting men | H |
Bid Ministers move on | I |
Then all the worthy boys he knew | J |
He regularly licked | K |
And always collared people who | J |
Had had their pockets picked | K |
- | |
He was not naturally bad | L |
Or viciously inclined | M |
But from his early youth he had | L |
A waggish turn of mind | M |
The Men of London grimly scowled | N |
With indignation wild | O |
The Men of London gruffly growled | N |
But PETER calmly smiled | O |
- | |
Against this minion of the Crown | P |
The swelling murmurs grew | J |
From Camberwell to Kentish Town | P |
From Rotherhithe to Kew | J |
Still humoured he his wagsome turn | Q |
And fed in various ways | R |
The coward rage that dared to burn | Q |
But did not dare to blaze | R |
- | |
Still Retribution has her day | C |
Although her flight is slow | S |
ONE DAY THAT CRUSHER LOST HIS WAY | C |
NEAR POLAND STREET SOHO | S |
The haughty boy too proud to ask | T |
To find his way resolved | U |
And in the tangle of his task | T |
Got more and more involved | U |
- | |
The Men of London overjoyed | V |
Came there to jeer their foe | S |
And flocking crowds completely cloyed | V |
The mazes of Soho | S |
The news on telegraphic wires | W |
Sped swiftly o'er the lea | X |
Excursion trains from distant shires | Y |
Brought myriads to see | X |
- | |
For weeks he trod his self made beats | Z |
Through Newport Gerrard Bear | A2 |
Greek Rupert Frith Dean Poland Streets | Z |
And into Golden Square | A2 |
But all alas in vain for when | H |
He tried to learn the way | C |
Of little boys or grown up men | H |
They none of them would say | C |
- | |
Their eyes would flash their teeth would grind | V |
Their lips would tightly curl | B2 |
They'd say Thy way thyself must find | V |
Thou misdirecting churl | B2 |
And similarly also when | H |
He tried a foreign friend | V |
Italians answered IL BALEN | H |
The French No comprehend | V |
- | |
The Russ would say with gleaming eye | C2 |
Sevastopol and groan | H |
The Greek said GREEK TEXT WHICH CANNOT | V |
BE REPRODUCED | V |
To wander thus for many a year | D2 |
That Crusher never ceased | V |
The Men of London dropped a tear | A2 |
Their anger was appeased | V |
- | |
At length exploring gangs were sent | V |
To find poor FORTH'S remains | E2 |
A handsome grant by Parliament | V |
Was voted for their pains | E2 |
To seek the poor policeman out | V |
Bold spirits volunteered | V |
And when they swore they'd solve the doubt | V |
The Men of London cheered | V |
- | |
And in a yard dark dank and drear | A2 |
They found him on the floor | A2 |
It leads from Richmond Buildings near | A2 |
The Royalty stage door | A2 |
With brandy cold and brandy hot | V |
They plied him starved and wet | V |
And made him sergeant on the spot | V |
The Men of London's pet | V |
William Schwenck Gilbert
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