StoryTitle("caps", "Casey at the Bat") ?>
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "They thought, \"If only Casey could but get a whack at that—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat.\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the bat.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile lit Casey's face.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped—", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "\"That ain't my style,\" said Casey. \"Strike one!\" the umpire said.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Kill him! Kill the umpire!\" shouted some one on the stand;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the dun sphere flew;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said \"Strike two!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0DQ", "", "\"Fraud!\" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered \"Fraud!\"", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The sneer has fled from Casey's lip, the teeth are clenched in hate;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.", "") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>