Peter The Wag Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEFGCGC HIHIJKJK LMLMNONO PJPJQRQR CSCSTUTU VSVSWXYX ZA2ZA2HCHC VB2VB2HVHV C2HVVD2VA2V VE2VE2VVVV A2A2A2A2VVVV

POLICEMAN PETER FORTH I dragA
From his obscure retreatB
He was a merry genial wagA
Who loved a mad conceitB
If he were asked the time of dayC
By country bumpkins greenD
He not unfrequently would sayC
A quarter past thirteenD
-
If ever you by word of mouthE
Inquired of MISTER FORTHF
The way to somewhere in the SouthE
He always sent you NorthF
With little boys his beat alongG
He loved to stop and playC
He loved to send old ladies wrongG
And teach their feet to strayC
-
He would in frolic moments whenH
Such mischief bent uponI
Take Bishops up as betting menH
Bid Ministers move onI
Then all the worthy boys he knewJ
He regularly lickedK
And always collared people whoJ
Had had their pockets pickedK
-
He was not naturally badL
Or viciously inclinedM
But from his early youth he hadL
A waggish turn of mindM
The Men of London grimly scowledN
With indignation wildO
The Men of London gruffly growledN
But PETER calmly smiledO
-
Against this minion of the CrownP
The swelling murmurs grewJ
From Camberwell to Kentish TownP
From Rotherhithe to KewJ
Still humoured he his wagsome turnQ
And fed in various waysR
The coward rage that dared to burnQ
But did not dare to blazeR
-
Still Retribution has her dayC
Although her flight is slowS
ONE DAY THAT CRUSHER LOST HIS WAYC
NEAR POLAND STREET SOHOS
The haughty boy too proud to askT
To find his way resolvedU
And in the tangle of his taskT
Got more and more involvedU
-
The Men of London overjoyedV
Came there to jeer their foeS
And flocking crowds completely cloyedV
The mazes of SohoS
The news on telegraphic wiresW
Sped swiftly o'er the leaX
Excursion trains from distant shiresY
Brought myriads to seeX
-
For weeks he trod his self made beatsZ
Through Newport Gerrard BearA2
Greek Rupert Frith Dean Poland StreetsZ
And into Golden SquareA2
But all alas in vain for whenH
He tried to learn the wayC
Of little boys or grown up menH
They none of them would sayC
-
Their eyes would flash their teeth would grindV
Their lips would tightly curlB2
They'd say Thy way thyself must findV
Thou misdirecting churlB2
And similarly also whenH
He tried a foreign friendV
Italians answered IL BALENH
The French No comprehendV
-
The Russ would say with gleaming eyeC2
Sevastopol and groanH
The Greek said GREEK TEXT WHICH CANNOTV
BE REPRODUCEDV
To wander thus for many a yearD2
That Crusher never ceasedV
The Men of London dropped a tearA2
Their anger was appeasedV
-
At length exploring gangs were sentV
To find poor FORTH'S remainsE2
A handsome grant by ParliamentV
Was voted for their painsE2
To seek the poor policeman outV
Bold spirits volunteeredV
And when they swore they'd solve the doubtV
The Men of London cheeredV
-
And in a yard dark dank and drearA2
They found him on the floorA2
It leads from Richmond Buildings nearA2
The Royalty stage doorA2
With brandy cold and brandy hotV
They plied him starved and wetV
And made him sergeant on the spotV
The Men of London's petV

William Schwenck Gilbert



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