A Century of Parody and Imitation

by Unknown

WAKE! FOR THE RUDDY BALL HAS TAKEN FLIGHT.

(EDWARD FITZGERALD)

I.

Wake! for the Ruddy Ball has taken flight

That scatters the slow Wicket of the Night;

And the swift Batsman of the Dawn has driven

Against the Star-spiked Rails a fiery Smite.

Wake, my Belovèd! take the Bat that clears

The sluggish Liver, and Dyspeptics cheers:

To-morrow? Why, to-morrow I may be