The Battle Of El-teb Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCD EEFF FFDD GGDD HHIJ KKKK KKLL MMNN OOEE PQRS KKKK TTGG DUGG GGVV WWKK FFWW XXFF YYZZ| Ye sons of Great Britain I think no shame | A |
| To write in praise of brave General Graham | B |
| Whose name will be handed down to posterity without any stigma | C |
| Because at the battle of El Teb he defeated Osman Digna | D |
| - | |
| With an army about five thousand strong | E |
| To El Teb in the year he marched along | E |
| And bivouacked there for the night | F |
| While around their fires they only thought of the coming fight | F |
| - | |
| They kept up their fires all the long night | F |
| Which made the encampment appear weird like to the sight | F |
| While the men were completely soaked with the rain | D |
| But the brave heroes disdained to complain | D |
| - | |
| The brave heroes were glad when daylight did appear | G |
| And when the reveille was sounded they gave a hearty cheer | G |
| And their fires were piled up higher again | D |
| Then they tried to dry their clothes that were soaked with the rain | D |
| - | |
| Then breakfast was taken about eight o'clock | H |
| And when over each man stood in the ranks as firm as a rock | H |
| And every man seemed to be on his guard | I |
| All silent and ready to move forward | J |
| - | |
| The first movement was a short one from where they lay | K |
| Then they began to advance towards El Teb without dismay | K |
| And showed that all was in order for the fray | K |
| While every man's heart seemed to feel light and gay | K |
| - | |
| The enemy's position could be seen in the distance far away | K |
| But the brave heroes marched on without delay | K |
| Whilst the enemy's banners floated in the air | L |
| And dark swarms of men were scattered near by there | L |
| - | |
| Their force was a large one its front extended over a mile | M |
| And all along the line their guns were all in file | M |
| But as the British advanced they disappeared | N |
| While our brave kilty lads loudly cheered | N |
| - | |
| Thus slowly and cautiously brave General Graham proceeded | O |
| And to save his men from slaughter great caution was needed | O |
| Because Osman Digna's force was about ten thousand strong | E |
| But he said Come on my brave lads we'll conquer them ere long | E |
| - | |
| It was about ten o'clock when they came near the enemy's lines | P |
| And on the morning air could be heard the cheerful chimes | Q |
| Corning from the pipes of the gallant Black Watch | R |
| Which every ear in the British force was eager to catch | S |
| - | |
| Then they passed by the enemy about mid day | K |
| While every Arab seemed to have his gun ready for the fray | K |
| When a bullet strikes down General Baker by the way | K |
| But he is soon in the saddle again without delay | K |
| - | |
| And ready for any service that he could perform | T |
| Whilst the bullets fell around them in a perfect storm | T |
| That they had to lie down but not through fear | G |
| Because the enemy was about yards on their left rear | G |
| - | |
| Then General Graham addressed his men | D |
| And said If they won't attack us we must attack them | U |
| So start to your feet my lads and never fear | G |
| And strike up your bagpipes and give a loud cheer | G |
| - | |
| So they leapt to their feet and gave a loud cheer | G |
| While the Arabs swept down upon them without the least fear | G |
| And put aside their rifles and grasped their spears | V |
| Whilst the British bullets in front of them the earth uptears | V |
| - | |
| Then the British charged them with their cold steel | W |
| Which made the Arabs backward for to reel | W |
| But they dashed forward again on their ranks without dismay | K |
| But before the terrible fire of their musketry they were swept away | K |
| - | |
| Oh God of Heaven it was a terrible sight | F |
| To see and hear the Arabs shouting with all their might | F |
| A fearful oath when they got an inch of cold steel | W |
| Which forced them backwards again and made them reel | W |
| - | |
| By two o'clock they were fairly beat | X |
| And Osman Digna the false prophet was forced to retreat | X |
| After three hours of an incessant fight | F |
| But Heaven 'tis said defends the right | F |
| - | |
| And I think he ought to be ashamed of himself | Y |
| For I consider he has acted the part of a silly elf | Y |
| By thinking to conquer the armies of the Lord | Z |
| With his foolish and benighted rebel horde | Z |
William Topaz Mcgonagall
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Battle Of El-teb poem by William Topaz Mcgonagall
Best Poems of William Topaz Mcgonagall