schemed poetry done quite well, thanks for that. excellent storytelling.
last stanza sent chills.
KS
On 24/01/07, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Captain Carpenter
>
> Captain Carpenter rose up in his prime
> Put on his pistols and went riding out
> But had got wellnigh nowhere at that time
> Till he fell in with ladies in a rout.
>
> It was a pretty lady and all her train
> That played with him so sweetly but before
> An hour she'd taken a sword with all her main
> And twined him of his nose for evermore.
>
> Captain Carpenter mounted up one day
> And rode straightway into a stranger rogue
> That looked unchristian but be that as may
> The Captain did not wait upon prologue.
>
> But drew upon him out of his great heart
> The other swung against him with a club
> And cracked his two legs at the shinny part
> And let him roll and stick like any tub.
>
> Captain Carpenter rode many a time
> From male and female took he sundry harms
> He met the wife of Satan crying "I'm
> The she-wolf bids you shall bear no more arms.
>
> Their strokes and counters whistled in the wind
> I wish he had delivered half his blows
> But where she should have made off like a hind
> The bitch bit off his arms at the elbows.
>
> And Captain Carpenter parted with his ears
> To a black devil that used him in this wise
> O Jesus ere his threescore and ten years
> Another had plucked out his sweet blue eyes.
>
> Captain Carpenter got up on his roan
> And sallied from the gate in hell's despite
> I heard him asking in the grimmest tone
> If any enemy yet there was to fight?
>
> "To any adversary it is fame
> If he risk to be wounded by my tongue
> Or burnt in two beneath my red heart's flame
> Such are the perils he is cast among.
>
> "But if he can he has a pretty choice
> From an anatomy with little to lose
> Whether he cut my tongue and take my voice
> Or whether it be my round red heart he choose. "
>
> It was the neatest knave that ever was seen
> Stepping in perfume from his lady's bower
> Who at this word put in his merry mien
> And fell on Captain Carpenter like a tower.
>
> I would not knock old fellows in the dust
> But there lay Captain Carpenter on his back
> His weapons were the old heart in his bust
> And a blade shook between rotten teeth alack.
>
> The rogue in scarlet and grey soon knew his mind.
> He wished to get his trophy and depart
> With gentle apology and touch refined
> He pierced him and produced the Captain's heart.
>
> God's mercy rest on Captain Carpenter now
> I thought him Sirs an honest gentleman
> Citizen husband soldier and scholar enow
> Let jangling kites eat of him if they can.
>
> But God's deep curses follow after those
> That shore him of his goodly nose and ears
> His legs and strong arms at the two elbows
> And eyes that had not watered seventy years.
>
> The curse of hell upon the sleek upstart
> That got the Captain finally on his back
> And took the red red vitals of his heart
> And made the kites to whet their beaks clack clack.
>
> John Crowe Ransom
>
> Quoting Robin Hamilton <[log in to unmask]>:
> > decided that it was a
> > useful way of identifying an element of John Crow Ransom's rhythm that
> had
> > intrigued me for ages}.
>
>
>
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