Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DEACON, by WILLIAM A. PHELON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DEACON, by                    
First Line: The deacon wandered forth one day and saw a
Last Line: He now stands for good, clean ball games, even on the sabbath day!
Subject(s): Baseball; Clergy; Sabbath; Sports; Temptation; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Sunday


THE Deacon wandered forth one day and saw a Sunday game—
Such doings filled the Deacon's soul with agony and shame—
He scowled upon the sinners as they chased and slammed the ball,
And he noticed that the pitcher was a target, that was all!
For the hits were long and frequent, and they crashed and bammed like sin,
And the fans were raising tumult with a loud and awful din—
And the Deacon, as he watched it, felt a sudden, wicked thrill—
And he strode right out before them and he seized upon the pill!
(He had pitched a lot of ball games in his youth, the Deacon had,
And the Leagues had made him offers that were—well, not half so bad).
So the Deacon started pitching, while the crowd gave ribald jeers,
Which were turned, in just one inning, into rounds of roaring cheers!
For the Deacon fanned six batters in a meek, bewildered row,
Then went up and won that ball game with a stunning home-run blow!
Then he realized his error, and he left the pitching peak,
With a flush of great confusion spreading o'er his weathered cheek—
He had fallen for temptation—but—at least so people say—
He now stands for good, clean ball games, even on the Sabbath Day!





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