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Cinquain Poem

This poem describes a baseball game between the Mudville nine team and their opponents. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the score tied, the crowd's hopes rest on their star player, Casey, coming to bat. The previous batters, Flynn and Blake, managed to get on base. When Casey steps up to bat with the count at two strikes, the crowd watches eagerly to see if he can save the game.

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Maria Baker
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626 views3 pages

Cinquain Poem

This poem describes a baseball game between the Mudville nine team and their opponents. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the score tied, the crowd's hopes rest on their star player, Casey, coming to bat. The previous batters, Flynn and Blake, managed to get on base. When Casey steps up to bat with the count at two strikes, the crowd watches eagerly to see if he can save the game.

Uploaded by

Maria Baker
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENRE: Poetry READERS: 8 or more

CULTURE: American (late 19th century) READER AGES: 9 and up


THEME: Hubris LENGTH: 4 minutes
ROLES: Fans 1–6 (“1”–“6”), Casey (“C”), Umpire (“U”), (Pitcher), (Flynn), (Blake), (Other Fans)

1: It looked extremely rocky for the Mudville nine


that day.

6: The score was two to four with but one inning left
to play.

2: So, when Cooney died at second, and Burrows did


the same,

A pallor wreathed the features of the patrons of


the game.

5: A straggling few got up to go, leaving there the


rest

With that hope that springs eternal from within


the human breast.

3: For they thought, if only Casey could get a whack


at that,

4: They’d put up even money now, with Casey at the


bat.

1: But Flynn preceded Casey,

6: and likewise so did


Blake,

2: And the former was a pudding,

5: and the latter was a


fake.

3: So, on that stricken multitude a death-like


silence sat

4: For there seemed but little chance of Casey’s


getting to the bat.
1: But Flynn let fly a single to the wonderment of
all,

6: And the much despisèd Blakey tore the cover off


the ball.

2: So, when the dust had settled

5: and they saw what


had occurred,

3: There was Blakey safe at second,

4: and Flynn a-
hugging third.

1: Then from the gladdened multitude went up a joyous


yell.

6: It rumbled in the mountaintops, it rattled in the


dell.

2: It struck upon the hillside and rebounded on the


flat—

5: For Casey,

3: mighty Casey,

4: was advancing to the bat.

1: There was ease in Casey’s manner as he stepped


into his place.

6: There was pride in Casey’s bearing and a smile on


Casey’s face.

2: And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly


doffed his hat,

No stranger in the crowd could doubt ’twas Casey


at the bat.

5: Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his


hands with dirt.
3: Five thousand tongues applauded as he wiped them
on his shirt.
4: And when the writhing pitcher ground the ball into
his hip,
Defiance glanced from Casey’s eye, a sneer curled
Casey’s lip.
1: And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling
through the air,
6: And Casey stood a-watching it
2: in haughty grandeur
there.
5: Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded
sped.
C: “That ain’t my style,”
3: said Casey.
U: “Strike one!”
4: t
he umpire said.

1: From the benches black with people there went up a


muffled roar,
6: Like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and
distant shore.
2: “Kill him! Kill the umpire!”
5: someone shouted from
the stand—
3: And it’s likely they’d have killed him,
4: had not Casey
raised his hand.

1: With a smile of noble charity great Casey’s visage


shone.
6: He stilled the rising tumult. He bade the game go
on.
2: He signaled to the pitcher,
5: and once more the
spheroid flew.
3: But Casey still ignored it,
4: and the umpire said,
U: “
Strike two!”

1–6: “Fraud!”

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