Beranger's My Last Song Perhaps (January 1814)
Eugene Field 1850 (St. Louis) – 1895 (Chicago)
When, to despoil my native France,
With flaming torch and cruel sword
And boisterous drums her foeman comes,
I curse him and his vandal horde!
Yet, what avail accrues to her,
If we assume the garb of woe?
Let's merry be,--in laughter we
May rescue somewhat from the foe!
Ah, many a brave man trembles now.
I (coward!) show no sign of fear;
When Bacchus sends his blessing, friends,
I drown my panic in his cheer.
Come, gather round my humble board,
And let the sparkling wassail flow,--
Chuckling to think, the while you drink,
"This much we rescue from the foe!"
My creditors beset me so
And so environed my abode,
That I agreed, despite my need,
To settle up the debts I owed;
When suddenly there came the news
Of this invasion, as you know;
I'll pay no score; pray, lend me more,--
I--I will keep it from the foe!
Now here's my mistress,--pretty dear!--
Feigns terror at this martial noise,
And yet, methinks, the artful minx
Would like to meet those soldier boys!
I tell her that they're coarse and rude,
Yet feel she don't believe 'em so,--
Well, never mind; so she be kind,
That much I rescue from the foe!
If, brothers, hope shall have in store
For us and ours no friendly glance,
Let's rather die than raise a cry
Of welcome to the foes of France!
But, like the swan that dying sings,
Let us, O Frenchmen, singing go,--
Then shall our cheer, when death is near,
Be so much rescued from the foe!
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:23 min read
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Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABXBXCXC XDXDBCXC CEXEXCFC DGAGXCXC FAXAXCDC |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,391 |
Words | 272 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 |
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"Beranger's My Last Song Perhaps (January 1814)" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/12913/beranger's-my-last-song-perhaps-(january-1814)>.
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