The Wreck Of The Whaler Oscar Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEEE FFGG HHIH JJKK LLLL LLBB MAGG LLJJ NOLL PPEE QQPP LLLL LLLL GGRR PPLL SSLL QQTT| 'Twas on the st of April and in the year of Eighteen thirteen | A |
| That the whaler Oscar was wrecked not far from Aberdeen | A |
| 'Twas all on a sudden the wind arose and a terrific blast it blew | B |
| And the Oscar was lost and forty two of a gallant crew | B |
| - | |
| The storm burst forth with great violence but of short duration | C |
| And spread o'er a wide district and filled the people's hearts with consternation | C |
| And its effects were such that the people will long mind | D |
| Because at Peterhead the roof was torn off a church by the heavy wind | D |
| - | |
| The Oscar joined other four ships that were lying in Aberdeen Bay | E |
| All ready to start for Geeenland without delay | E |
| While the hearts of each ship's crew felt light and gay | E |
| But when the storm burst upon them it filled their hearts with dismay | E |
| - | |
| The wind had been blowing westerly during the night | F |
| But suddenly it shifted to the North east and blew with all its might | F |
| And thick and fast fell the blinding snow | G |
| Which filled the poor sailors' hearts with woe | G |
| - | |
| And the Oscar was exposed to the full force of the gale | H |
| But the crew resolved to do their best allowing they should fail | H |
| So they weighed anchor and stood boldly out for sea | I |
| While the great crowds that had gathered cheered them encouragingly | H |
| - | |
| The ill fated Oscar however sent a boat ashore | J |
| For some of her crew that were absent while the angry sea did roar | J |
| And 'twas with great difficulty the men got aboard | K |
| And to make the ship allright they wrought with one accord | K |
| - | |
| Then suddenly the wind shifted and a treacherous calm ensued | L |
| And the vessel's deck with snow was thickly strewed | L |
| And a heavy sea was running with a strong flood tide | L |
| And it soon became apparent the men wouldn't be able the ship to guide | L |
| - | |
| And as the Oscar drifted further and further to leeward | L |
| The brave crew tried hard her backward drifting to retard | L |
| But all their efforts proved in vain for the storm broke out anew | B |
| While the drifting snow hid her from the spectators' view | B |
| - | |
| And the position of the Oscar was critical in the extreme | M |
| And as the spray washed o'er the vessel O what a soul harrowing scene | A |
| And notwithstanding the fury of the gale and the blinding snow | G |
| Great crowds watched the Oscar as she was tossed to and fro | G |
| - | |
| O heaven it was a most heart rending sight | L |
| To see the crew struggling against the wind and blinding snow with all their might | L |
| While the mighty waves lashed her sides and angry did roar | J |
| Which to their relatives were painful to see that were standing on shore | J |
| - | |
| All eagerly watching her attempt to ride out the storm | N |
| Especially their friends and relatives who seemed very forlorn | O |
| Because the scene was awe inspiring and made them stand aghast | L |
| For every moment seemed to be the Oscar's last | L |
| - | |
| Oh it was horrible to see the good ship in distress | P |
| Battling hard against wind and tide to clear the Girdleness | P |
| A conspicuous promontory on the south side of Aberdeen Bay | E |
| Where many a stout ship and crew have gone down passing that way | E |
| - | |
| At last the vessel was driven ashore in the bay of Greyhope | Q |
| And the Oscar with the elements no longer could cope | Q |
| While the big waves lashed her furiously and she received fearful shocks | P |
| Until a mighty wave hurled her among large boulders of rocks | P |
| - | |
| And when the vessel struck the crew stood aghast | L |
| But they resolved to hew down the mainmast | L |
| Which the spectators watched with eager interest | L |
| And to make it fall on the rocks the brave sailors tried their best | L |
| - | |
| But instead of falling on the rocks it dropped into the angry tide | L |
| Then a groan arose from those that were standing on the shore side | L |
| And the mainmast in its fall brought down the foremast | L |
| Then all hope of saving the crew seemed gone at last | L |
| - | |
| And a number of the crew were thrown into the boiling surge below | G |
| While loud and angry the stormy wind did blow | G |
| And the good ship was dashed to pieces from stern to stem | R |
| Within a yard or two from their friends who were powerless to save them | R |
| - | |
| Oh it was an appalling sight to see the Oscar in distress | P |
| While to the forecastle was seen clinging brave Captain Innes | P |
| And five of a crew crying for help which none could afford | L |
| Alas poor fellows crying aloud to God with one accord | L |
| - | |
| But their cry to God for help proved all in vain | S |
| For the ship and men sank beneath the briny main | S |
| And out of a crew of forty four men only two were saved | L |
| But landsmen think how manfully that unfortunate crew behaved | L |
| - | |
| And also think of the mariners while you lie down to sleep | Q |
| And pray to God to protect them while on the briny deep | Q |
| For their hardships are many and hard to endure | T |
| There's only a plank between them and a watery grave which makes their lives unsure | T |
William Topaz Mcgonagall
(1)
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