The First Grenadier Of France Poem Rhyme Scheme

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'Twas in a certain regiment of French Grenadiers	A
A touching and beautiful custom was observed many years	A
Which was meant to commemorate the heroism of a departed comrade	B
And when the companies assembled for parade	C
There was one name at roll call to which no answer was made	C
	-
It was that of the noble La Tour d'Auvergne	D
The first Grenadier of France heroic and stern	D
And always at roll call the oldest sergeant stepped forward a pace	A
And loudly cried Died on the field of battle then fell back into his place	A
	-
He always refused offers of high promotion	D
Because to be promoted from the ranks he had no notion	D
But at last he was in command of eight thousand men	D
Hence he was called the first Grenadier of France La Tour d'Auvergne	D
	-
When forty years of age he went on a visit to a friend	E
Never thinking he would have a French garrison to defend	E
And while there he made himself acquainted with the country	F
But the war had shifted to that quarter unfortunately	F
	-
But although the war was there he felt undaunted	G
Because to fight on behalf of France was all he wanted	H
And the thought thereof did his mind harass	A
When he knew a regiment of Austrians was pushing on to occupy a narrow pass	A
	-
They were pushing on in hot haste and no delaying	I
And only two hours distant from where the Grenadier was staying	I
But when he knew he set off at once for the pass	A
Determined if 'twere possible the enemy to harass	A
	-
He knew that the pass was defended by a stout tower	J
And to destroy the garrison the enemy would exert all their power	J
But he hoped to be able to warn the French of their danger	J
But to the thirty men garrisoned there he was quite a stranger	J
	-
Still the brave hero hastened on and when he came there	K
He found the thirty men had fled in wild despair	K
Leaving their thirty muskets behind	L
But to defend the garrison to the last he made up his mind	L
	-
And in searching he found several boxes of ammunition not destroyed	M
And for a moment he felt a little annoyed	M
Then he fastened the main door with the articles he did find	L
And when he had done so he felt satisfied in mind	L
	-
Then he ate heartily of the provisions he had brought	N
And waited patiently for the enemy absorbed in thought	N
And formed the heroic resolution to defend the tower	J
Alone against the enemy while he had the power	J
	-
There the brave hero sat alone quite content	O
Resolved to hold the garrison or die in the attempt	P
And about midnight his practised ear caught the tramp of feet	Q
But he had everything ready for the attack and complete	Q
	-
There he sat and his mind absorbed in deep distress	A
But he discharged a couple of muskets into the darkness	A
To warn the enemy that he knew they were there	K
Then he heard the Austrian officers telling their men to beware	K
	-
So until morning he was left unmolested	G
And quietly till daylight the brave Grenadier rested	H
But at sunrise the Austrian commander called on the garrison to surrender	J
But the Grenadier replied Never I am its sole defender	J
	-
Then a piece of artillery was brought to bear upon the tower	J
But the Grenadier from his big gun rapid fire on it did shower	J
He kept up a rapid fire and most accurate	R
And when the Austrian commander noticed it he felt irate	S
	-
And at sunset the last assault was made	C
Still the noble Grenadier felt not the least afraid	C
But the Austrian commander sent a second summons of surrender	J
Hoping that the garrison would his injunctions remember	J
	-
Then the next day at sunrise the tower door was opened wide	T
And a bronzed and scarred Grenadier forth did glide	T
Literally laden with muskets and passed along the line of troops	A
While in utter astonishment the Austrian Colonel upon him looks	A
	-
Behold Colonel I am the garrison said the soldier proudly	F
What exclaimed the Colonel do you mean to tell me	F
That you alone have held that tower against so many men	D
Yes Colonel I have indeed replied La Tour d'Auvergne	D
	-
Then the Colonel raised his cap and said you are the bravest of the brave	U
Grenadier I salute you and I hope you will find an honourable grave	U
And you're at liberty to carry the muskets along with you	V
So my brave Grenadier I must bid thee adieu	V
	-
At last in action the brave soldier fell in June	D
And the Emperor Napoleon felt sorry when he heard he was dead	W
And he commanded his regiment to remember one thing above all	X
To cry out always the brave Grenadier's name at the roll call	X

William Topaz Mcgonagall

The First Grenadier Of France Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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