Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PRAYER OF A SPORTSMAN, by BERTON BRALEY 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! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN INSCRIPTION FOR DOG RIVER by KENNETH SLESSOR HOW WE BEAT THE FAVOURITE by ADAM LINDSAY GORDON OPPORTUNITY by EDWARD ROWLAND SILL THE GLORIOUS TOUCHDOWN by GEORGE ADE THE WINGLESS VICTORY by WILLIAM HERVEY ALLEN JR. LET ME FORGET by OMA CARLYLE ANDERSON |
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