The Caffer
Thomas Pringle 1789 (Blakelaw) – 1834
Lo! where he crouches by the cleugh's dark side,
Eyeing the farmer's lowing herds afar;
Impatient watching till the Evening Star
Lead forth the Twilight dim, that he may glide
Like panther to the prey. With freeborn pride
He scorns the herdsman, nor regards the scar
Of recent wound -- but burnishes for war
His assagai and targe of buffalo-hide.
He is a Robber? -- True; it is a strife
Between the black-skinned bandit and the white.
A Savage? -- Yes; though loth to aim at life,
Evil for evil fierce he doth requite.
A Heathen? -- Teach him, then, thy better creed,
Christian! if thou deserv'st that name indeed.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 34 sec read
- 87 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABBAABCADEDAFF |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 615 |
Words | 112 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 14 |
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"The Caffer" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/37114/the-caffer>.
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