The Perils Of Invisibility Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EFGG CCHH IIGG HHJJ KKII HHLL MMNN DDOO CCPH QQRR CCGG SSDD TTHH QQUG VVCC WWXX YYLZ KKCC CCA2A2 B2B2C2C2 CCC2C2Old PETER led a wretched life | A |
Old PETER had a furious wife | A |
Old PETER too was truly stout | B |
He measured several yards about | B |
- | |
The little fairy PICKLEKIN | C |
One summer afternoon looked in | C |
And said Old PETER how de do | D |
Can I do anything for you | D |
- | |
I have three gifts the first will give | E |
Unbounded riches while you live | F |
The second health where'er you be | G |
The third invisibility | G |
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O little fairy PICKLEKIN | C |
Old PETER answered with a grin | C |
To hesitate would be absurd | H |
Undoubtedly I choose the third | H |
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'Tis yours the fairy said be quite | I |
Invisible to mortal sight | I |
Whene'er you please Remember me | G |
Most kindly pray to MRS P | G |
- | |
Old MRS PETER overheard | H |
Wee PICKLEKIN'S concluding word | H |
And jealous of her girlhood's choice | J |
Said That was some young woman's voice | J |
- | |
Old PETER let her scold and swear | K |
Old PETER bless him didn't care | K |
My dear your rage is wasted quite | I |
Observe I disappear from sight | I |
- | |
A well bred fairy so I've heard | H |
Is always faithful to her word | H |
Old PETER vanished like a shot | L |
Put then HIS SUIT OF CLOTHES DID NOT | L |
- | |
For when conferred the fairy slim | M |
Invisibility on HIM | M |
She popped away on fairy wings | N |
Without referring to his things | N |
- | |
So there remained a coat of blue | D |
A vest and double eyeglass too | D |
His tail his shoes his socks as well | O |
His pair of no I must not tell | O |
- | |
Old MRS PETER soon began | C |
To see the failure of his plan | C |
And then resolved I quote the Bard | P |
To hoist him with his own petard | H |
- | |
Old PETER woke next day and dressed | Q |
Put on his coat and shoes and vest | Q |
His shirt and stock BUT COULD NOT FIND | R |
HIS ONLY PAIR OF never mind | R |
- | |
Old PETER was a decent man | C |
And though he twigged his lady's plan | C |
Yet hearing her approaching he | G |
Resumed invisibility | G |
- | |
Dear MRS P my only joy | S |
Exclaimed the horrified old boy | S |
Now give them up I beg of you | D |
You know what I'm referring to | D |
- | |
But no the cross old lady swore | T |
She'd keep his what I said before | T |
To make him publicly absurd | H |
And MRS PETER kept her word | H |
- | |
The poor old fellow had no rest | Q |
His coat his stick his shoes his vest | Q |
Were all that now met mortal eye | U |
The rest invisibility | G |
- | |
Now madam give them up I beg | V |
I've had rheumatics in my leg | V |
Besides until you do it's plain | C |
I cannot come to sight again | C |
- | |
For though some mirth it might afford | W |
To see my clothes without their lord | W |
Yet there would rise indignant oaths | X |
If he were seen without his clothes | X |
- | |
But no resolved to have her quiz | Y |
The lady held her own and his | Y |
And PETER left his humble cot | L |
To find a pair of you know what | Z |
- | |
But here's the worst of the affair | K |
Whene'er he came across a pair | K |
Already placed for him to don | C |
He was too stout to get them on | C |
- | |
So he resolved at once to train | C |
And walked and walked with all his main | C |
For years he paced this mortal earth | A2 |
To bring himself to decent girth | A2 |
- | |
At night when all around is still | B2 |
You'll find him pounding up a hill | B2 |
And shrieking peasants whom he meets | C2 |
Fall down in terror on the peats | C2 |
- | |
Old PETER walks through wind and rain | C |
Resolved to train and train and train | C |
Until he weighs twelve stone' or so | C2 |
And when he does I'll let you know | C2 |
William Schwenck Gilbert
(1)
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