The Famous Tay Whale Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCC CCCC CCDD EECC FFDD GGDD HHCC IIHH JJFF KKDD DDLL MMNO PPDD DDQQ| 'TWAS in the month of December and in the year l | A |
| That a monster whale came to Dundee | B |
| Resolved for a few days to sport and play | C |
| And devour the small fishes in the silvery Tay | C |
| - | |
| So the monster whale did sport and play | C |
| Among the innocent little fishes in the beautiful Tay | C |
| Until he was seen by some men one day | C |
| And they resolved to catch him without delay | C |
| - | |
| When it came to be known a whale was seen in the Tay | C |
| Some men began to talk and to say | C |
| We must try and catch this monster of a whale | D |
| So come on brave boys and never say fail | D |
| - | |
| Then the people together in crowds did run | E |
| Resolved to capture the whale and to have some fun | E |
| So small boats were launched on the silvery Tay | C |
| While the monster of the deep did sport and play | C |
| - | |
| Oh it was a most fearful and beautiful sight | F |
| To see it lashing the water with its tail all its might | F |
| And making the water ascend like a shower of hail | D |
| With one lash of its ugly and mighty tail | D |
| - | |
| Then the water did descend on the men in the boats | G |
| Which wet their trousers and also their coats | G |
| But it only made them the more determined to catch the whale | D |
| But the whale shook at them his tail | D |
| - | |
| Then the whale began to puff and to blow | H |
| While the men and the boats after him did go | H |
| Armed well with harpoons for the fray | C |
| Which they fired at him without dismay | C |
| - | |
| And they laughed and grinned just like wild baboons | I |
| While they fired at him their sharp harpoons | I |
| But when struck with the harpoons he dived below | H |
| Which filled his pursuers' hearts with woe | H |
| - | |
| Because they guessed they had lost a prize | J |
| Which caused the tears to well up in their eyes | J |
| And in that their anticipations were only right | F |
| Because he sped on to Stonehaven with all his might | F |
| - | |
| And was first seen by the crew of a Gourdon fishing boat | K |
| Which they thought was a big coble upturned afloat | K |
| But when they drew near they saw it was a whale | D |
| So they resolved to tow it ashore without fail | D |
| - | |
| So they got a rope from each boat tied round his tail | D |
| And landed their burden at Stonehaven without fail | D |
| And when the people saw it their voices they did raise | L |
| Declaring that the brave fishermen deserved great praise | L |
| - | |
| And my opinion is that God sent the whale in time of need | M |
| No matter what other people may think or what is their creed | M |
| I know fishermen in general are often very poor | N |
| And God in His goodness sent it drive poverty from their door | O |
| - | |
| So Mr John Wood has bought it for two hundred and twenty six pound | P |
| And has brought it to Dundee all safe and all sound | P |
| Which measures feet in length from the snout to the tail | D |
| So I advise the people far and near to see it without fail | D |
| - | |
| Then hurrah for the mighty monster whale | D |
| Which has got feet inches from tip to tip of a tail | D |
| Which can be seen for a sixpence or a shilling | Q |
| That is to say if the people all are willing | Q |
William Topaz Mcgonagall
(1)
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