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


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PITCHER, by                    
First Line: The pitcher stands upon the hill, his pose is won-
Last Line: "aw take him out! For mikes' sake, take him out!"
Subject(s): Athletes; Baseball; Failure; Sports


THE pitcher stands upon the hill, his pose is wonderful.
Yet, ere an hour has gone, perchance the crowd
Will say that he is only blunderful.
He writhes and twists, and suddenly evolves
A fast one with a hop,—the same revolves,
Deceives the batsman, passes untouched by,
Leaps like the waters of Niagara's fall,
And the coarse umpire cries "One Ball!"
Naw! Such a shame!
An instant flame
Runs through the populace, and, as one man,
They loudly state that dark eternal night
Hath seized the umpire's sight,
Or that the James Boys, when they rode the trail,
Were Saints compared to him—but what avail?
What's called is called.
Nor can we change one atom of that call,
No matter how we caterwaul.
The hits begin to ring. The whacksome crash
Of the loud ash—
Sends our home fielders chasing for and
Still a blame sight farther yet,
Out where the fence is set.
They cannot climb that fence to get the hits.
The public fancy flies
And suddenly 10,000 voices spout,
"Aw take him out! For Mikes' sake, take him out!"





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