Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PRAYER OF A SPORTSMAN, by BERTON BRALEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PRAYER OF A SPORTSMAN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dear lord, in the battle that goes on through life
Last Line: And cheer as the winners go by!
Subject(s): Sportsmanship; Victory


Dear Lord, in the battle that goes on through life
I ask but a field that is fair,
A chance that is equal with all in the strife,
A courage to strive and to dare;
And if I should win, let it be by the code
With my faith and my honor held high;
And if I should lose, let me stand by the road
And cheer as the winners go by!

And Lord, may my shouts be ungrudging and clear,
A tribute that comes from the heart,
And let me not cherish a snarl or a sneer
Or play any sniveling part;
Let me say: "There they ride on whom laurel's bestowed
Since they played the game better than I,"
Let me stand with a smile by the side of the road
And cheer as the winners go by!

So grant me to conquer, if conquer I can
By proving my worth in the fray;
But teach me to lose like a Regular Man
And not like a craven, I pray.
Let me take off my hat to the warriors who strode
To victory splendid and high,
Yea, teach me to stand by the side of the road
And cheer as the winners go by!





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