Analysis of The Chimney-Sweeper's Song
William Strode 1602 – 1645
Hath Christmas furr'd your Chimneys,
Or have the maides neglected,
Doe Fire-balls droppe from your Chimney's toppe,
The Pidgin is respected,
Looke up with feare and horror,
O how my mistresse wonders!
The streete doth crie, the newes doth flie,
The boyes they thinke it thunders.
Then up I rush with my pole and brush,
I scowre the chimney's Jacket,
I make it shine as bright as mine,
When I have rub'd and rak'd it.
Take heed, ten groates you'le forfeit,
The Maior will not have under,
In vain is dung, so is your gun
When brickes doe flie asunder:
Let not each faggot fright ye,
When threepence will me call in,
The Bishopps foote is not worse than soote
If ever it should fall in.
Up will I rush, etc.
The sent, the smoake ne're hurts me,
The dust is never minded,
Mine Eyes are glasse men sweare as I passe
Or else I had bin blinded,
For in the midst of Chimneys
I laugh, I sing, I hollow,
I chant my layes in Vulcan's praise
As merry as the swallow.
Still up I rush, etc.
With Engines and devices
I scale the proudest chimney,
The Prince's throne to mine alone
Gives place, the Starrs I climb ny.
I scorne all men beneath me
While there I stand a scowring,
All they below looke like a Crow,
Or men on Paules a tow'ring.
Then downe I rush, etc.
And as I downeward rumble
What thinke you is my lott then?
A good neat's tongue in the inside hung,
The maide hath it forgotten:
If e're the wanton mingled
My inke with soote I wist not,
Howere the neate and harmless cheate
Is worth a penny, is't not?
Still doe I rush, etc.
Then cloth'd in soote and ashes
I catch the maides that hast out,
Whos'ere I meete with smutt I greete,
And pounse their lipps and wastcote:
But on the Sunday morning
I looke not like a widgin,
Soe brave I stand with a point in my bande
Men ask if I be Pidgin.
Yet will I rush, etc.
Mulsacke I dare encounter
For all his horne and feather,
Ile lay him a crowne Ile roare him downe,
I thinke heale ne'er come hether.
The Boyes that climbe like Crickets
And steale my trade, Ile strippe them,
By priviledge I, growne Chimney hy,
Soone out of towne will whippe them.
Then will I rush, etc.
Scheme | ABXCDEFE XXGH HDIDJKBK L JBXCAFXF L MJXGJLXN L FXXIXOBO L MXBBNGBG L DDXDXPXP L |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1101110 1101010 110111111 011010 1111010 111110 01110111 0111110 111111101 110110 11111111 1111011 11111010 0111110 01111111 1111010 1111011 111110 01111111 1101110 1111100 01011111 0111010 111111111 1111110 1001110 1111110 11110101 1101010 1111100 1100010 1101010 01011101 1101111 1111011 111101 11011101 1111011 1111100 011110 1111111 011100011 0111010 11101010 1111111 1010101 11010111 1111100 1101010 1101111 1111111 011101 110110 111101 1111101011 111111 1111100 111010 1111010 111011111 111111 0111110 0111111 1111101 1111111 1111100 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 2,107 |
Words | 409 |
Sentences | 19 |
Stanzas | 14 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 4, 8, 1, 8, 1, 8, 1, 8, 1, 8, 1, 8, 1 |
Lines Amount | 66 |
Letters per line (avg) | 25 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 116 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 29 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 2:07 min read
- 52 Views
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"The Chimney-Sweeper's Song" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/41701/the-chimney-sweeper%27s-song>.
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