Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TRAGEDIES by WILLIAM A. PHELON

First Line: THE PITCHER HAD A NO-HIT GAME
Last Line: THIS MARK FOR QUIP AND BANTER!
Subject(s): HUMORISTS; SPORTS;

THE pitcher had a no-hit game
All cinched from the beginning—
He mowed the sluggers one-two-three
Until the final inning.
Two men were out—he'd sure come through
Without a whack or bingle—
The last man swung at nothing, and
The ball bounced for a single!

Around the ring the champion drove
The victim of a licking—
He drew his fist back for the punch
To send the soft mark kicking—
The victim swung one desperate glove,
The last kick of the dying,
And you could count two hundred where
The fallen champ was lying!

A rangy, scrubby-looking horse
The butt for jokes and chaffing,
Competed in a big event,
And started 'mid much laughing.
This horse came tearing through the ruck,
And won out in a canter—
But not a dime was bet upon
This mark for quip and banter!



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