Mysterious doings

Eugene Field 1850 (St. Louis) – 1895 (Chicago)



As once I rambled in the woods
 I chanced to spy amid the brake
A huntsman ride his way beside
 A fair and passing tranquil lake;
Though velvet bucks sped here and there,
 He let them scamper through the green--
Not one smote he, but lustily
 He blew his horn--what could it mean?

As on I strolled beside that lake,
 A pretty maid I chanced to see
Fishing away for finny prey,
 Yet not a single one caught she;
All round her boat the fishes leapt
 And gambolled to their hearts' content,
Yet never a thing did the maid but sing--
 I wonder what on earth it meant.

As later yet I roamed my way,
 A lovely steed neighed loud and long,
And an empty boat sped all afloat
 Where sang a fishermaid her song;
All underneath the prudent shade,
 Which yonder kindly willows threw,
Together strayed a youth and maid--
 I can't explain it all, can you?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

48 sec read
92

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXAXBXB ACDCXEXE DFXFGHGH
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 826
Words 160
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8

Eugene Field

Eugene Field, Sr. was an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. more…

All Eugene Field poems | Eugene Field Books

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