Poem by Norman Rowland Gale

The Prince, Batting

  As out of a cannon comes the ball!
  Quickly it flies to the human wall.
  Didn't it go with a will and a whiz?
    How lovely it is! How lovely it is!

  Four to the east, and four to the west!
  Arrowy shots at the Umpire's chest!
  Placid the sinewy batsman beams--
    How easy it seems! How easy it seems

  Watch! For a ball we could barely poke
  The master hand and the radiant stroke!
  Glances and cuts and drives and hooks--
    How easy it looks! How easy it looks!

  Now is the time we may all forget
  Paper and books, for the Prince is set.
  Here in the grass, with our work at heel,
    How happy we feel! How happy we feel!

1. Up at Lords
2. The Church Cricketant
3. On the Spot
4. A Boundary
5. Five Years After

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