Poet Ernest Lawrence Thayer

Ernest Lawrence Thayer

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Casey At The Bat Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEDD FFGG HHDD IIDD JJKK LLMM NNOO PQRR SSTU VVWW XXYY

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that dayA
The score stood four to two with but one inning more to playA
And then when Cooney died at first and Barrows did the sameB
A pall like silence fell upon the patrons of the gameB
-
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair The restC
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breastC
They thought If only Casey could but get a whack at thatD
We'd put up even money now with Casey at the batD
-
But Flynn preceded Casey as did also Jimmy BlakeE
And the former was a hoodoo while the latter was a cakeE
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy satD
For there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the batD
-
But Flynn let drive a single to the wonderment of allF
And Blake the much despis d tore the cover off the ballF
And when the dust had lifted and men saw what had occurredG
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a hugging thirdG
-
Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yellH
It rumbled through the valley it rattled in the dellH
It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flatD
For Casey mighty Casey was advancing to the batD
-
There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his placeI
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile lit Casey's faceI
And when responding to the cheers he lightly doffed his hatD
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the batD
-
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirtJ
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirtJ
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hipK
Defiance flashed in Casey's eye a sneer curled Casey's lipK
-
And now the leather covered sphere came hurtling through the airL
And Casey stood a watching it in haughty grandeur thereL
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded spedM
That ain't my style said Casey Strike one the umpire saidM
-
From the benches black with people there went up a muffled roarN
Like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shoreN
Kill him Kill the umpire shouted someone on the standO
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his handO
-
With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shoneP
He stilled the rising tumult he bade the game go onQ
He signaled to the pitcher and once more the dun sphere flewR
But Casey still ignored it and the umpire said Strike twoR
-
Fraud cried the maddened thousands and echo answered FraudS
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awedS
They saw his face grow stern and cold they saw his muscles strainT
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by againU
-
The sneer is gone from Casey's lip his teeth are clenched in hateV
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plateV
And now the pitcher holds the ball and now he lets it goW
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blowW
-
Oh somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining brightX
The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are lightX
And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shoutY
But there is no joy in Mudville mighty Casey has struck outY

Ernest Lawrence Thayer



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