Bill Bowls The Sailor Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB AACD EEFF GHBB EEII JJII KKLL MMNN BBKK OOKK BBPP QRSS TUVV WWXX YYZZ A2A2B2C2| 'Twas about the beginning of the present century | A |
| Bill Bowls was pressed and sent to sea | A |
| And conveyed on board the Waterwitch without delay | B |
| Scarce getting time to bid farewell to the villagers of Fairway | B |
| - | |
| And once on board the Waterwitch he resolved to do his duty | A |
| And God willing he'd marry Nelly Blyth the village beauty | A |
| And he'd fight for Old England like a jolly British tar | C |
| But he'd think of Nelly Blyth during the war | D |
| - | |
| The poor fellow little imagined what he had to go through | E |
| But in ail his trials at sea he never did rue | E |
| No the brave tar became reconciled to his fate | F |
| And he felt proud of his commander Captain Ward the great | F |
| - | |
| And on board the Waterwitch was Tom Riggles his old comrade | G |
| And with such a one as Tom Riggles he seldom felt afraid | H |
| Because the stories they told on board made the time fly away | B |
| And made the hearts of their messmates feel light and gay | B |
| - | |
| 'Twas on a sunny morning and clear to the view | E |
| Captain Ward the close attention of his men he drew | E |
| Look he cried there's two Frenchmen of war on our right | I |
| Therefore prepare my men immediately to commence the fight | I |
| - | |
| Then the Waterwitch was steered to the ship most near | J |
| While every man resolved to sell his life most dear | J |
| But the French commander disinclined to commence the fight | I |
| Ordered his men to put on a press of canvas and take to flight | I |
| - | |
| But Captain Ward quickly gave the order to fire | K |
| Then Bill Bowls cried Now we'll get fighting to our heart's desire | K |
| And for an hour and more a running fight was maintained | L |
| Until the two ships of the enemy near upon the Waterwitch gained | L |
| - | |
| Captain Ward walked the deck with a firm tread | M |
| When a shot from the enemy pierced the ship's side above his head | M |
| And with a splinter Bill Bowls was wounded on the left arm | N |
| And he cried Death to the frog eaters they have done me little harm | N |
| - | |
| Then Captain Ward cried Fear not we will win the day | B |
| Now courage my men pour in broadsides without delay | B |
| Then they sailed round the St Denis and the Gloire | K |
| And in at their cabin windows they poured a deadly fire | K |
| - | |
| The effect on the two ships was fearful to behold | O |
| But still the Frenchmen stuck to their guns with courage be it told | O |
| And the crash and din of artillery was deafening to the ear | K |
| And the cries of the wounded men on deck were pitiful to hear | K |
| - | |
| Then Captain Ward to his men did say | B |
| We must board these French ships without dismay | B |
| Then he seized his cutlass ashe fearlessly spoke | P |
| And jumped on board the St Denis in the midst of the smoke | P |
| - | |
| Then Bill Bowls and Tom Riggles quickly followed him | Q |
| Then hand to hand the battle in earnest did begin | R |
| And the men sprang upon their foes and beat them back | S |
| And they hauled down their colours and hoisted the Union Jack | S |
| - | |
| But the men on board the St Denis fought desperately hard | T |
| But alas as the St Denis was captured a ball struck Captain Ward | U |
| Right on the forehead and he fell dead with a groan | V |
| And for the death of Captain Ward the sailors did cry and moan | V |
| - | |
| Then the first lieutenant who was standing by | W |
| Loudly to the men did cry | W |
| Come men and carry your noble commander to his cabin below | X |
| But there is one consolation we have beaten the foe | X |
| - | |
| And thus fell Captain Ward in the prime of his life | Y |
| And I hope he is now in the better land free from strife | Y |
| But alas 'tis sad to think he was buried in the mighty deep | Z |
| Where too many of our brave seamen do silently sleep | Z |
| - | |
| The St Denis and the Gloire were towed to Gibraltar the nearest port | A2 |
| But by capturing of them they felt but little sport | A2 |
| Because for the loss of Captain Ward the men felt woebegone | B2 |
| Because in bravery they said he was next to Admiral Nelson | C2 |
William Topaz Mcgonagall
(1)
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Bill Bowls The Sailor is a poem by William Topaz Mcgonagall. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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