The Horrors Of Majuba Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABB CDEF GGAA HHII EEAA CDJJ KKLL MMHH HHNN OOCC PQAA RRSS TTUU VVTT WWII

'Twas after the great Majuba fightA
And the next morning at daylightA
Captain Macbean's men were ordered to headquarters campB
So immediately Captain Macbean and his men set out on trampB
-
And there they were joined by the Blue Jackets and th menC
Who for unflinching courage no man can them condemnD
And that brave little band was commissioned to bury their deadE
And the little band numbered in all about one hundredF
-
And they were supplied with a white flag fit emblem of deathG
Then they started off to O'Neill's farm with bated breathG
Where their comrades had been left the previous nightA
And were lying weltering in their gore oh what a horrible sightA
-
And when they arrived at the foot of Majuba HillH
They were stopped by a Boer party but they meant no illH
Who asked them what they wanted without dismayI
And when they said their dead there was no further delayI
-
Then the brave heroes marched on without any dreadE
To the Hill of Majuba to collect and bury their deadE
And to see them climbing Majuba it was a fearful sightA
And much more so on a dark pitch nightA
-
And on Majuba there was a row of dead menC
Numbering about forty or fifty of themD
There were also numbers of wounded men lying on the groundJ
And when Captain Macbean's party gazed on them their sorrow was profoundJ
-
Oh heaven what a sight of blood and brainsK
While the grass was red all o'er with blood stainsK
Especially at the edge of the Hill where the nd men were killedL
'Twas there that the eyes of Macbean's party with tears filledL
-
When they saw their dead and dying comrades in armsM
Who were always foremost in the fight during war's alarmsM
But who were now lying dead on Majuba HillH
And alas beyond the aid of all human skillH
-
They then went about two hundred yards down the HillH
And collected fourteen more bodies which made their blood run chillH
And into one grave seventy five bodies they buried thereN
All mostly nd men who I hope are free from all careN
-
Oh think of that gallant British bandO
Who at Majuba made such a heroic standO
And take them altogether they behaved like brave menC
But alas they were slaughtered like sheep in a penC
-
Poor fellows there were few of them left to retireP
Because undauntedly they faced that murderous fireQ
That the mighty host poured in upon them left and rightA
From their numerous rifles day and nightA
-
The conduct of the nd was most brave throughoutR
Which has always been the case without any doubtR
At least it has been the case in general with the Highland BrigadeS
Because in the field they are the foremost and seldom afraidS
-
And to do the British justice at Majuba they behaved right wellT
But by overwhelming numbers the most of them fellT
Which I'm very sorry to relateU
That such a brave little band met with such a fateU
-
The commanders and officers deserve great praiseV
Because they told their men to hold Majuba for three daysV
And so they did until the most of them fellT
Fighting nobly for their Queen and country they loved right wellT
-
But who's to blame for their fate I'm at a loss to knowW
But I think 'twas by fighting too numerous a foeW
But there's one thing I know and in conclusion will sayI
That their fame will be handed down to posterity for many a dayI

William Topaz Mcgonagall



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