David Cleek
David Cleek
Original Text
Siegfried Sassoon, The Old Huntsman and other Poems
(1917: New York: E.P. Dutton, 1918): 60. Internet Archive
1I cannot think that Death will press his claim
2To snuff you out or put you off your game:
3You'll still contrive to play your steady round,
4Though hurricanes may sweep the dismal ground,
5And darkness blur the sandy-skirted green
6Where silence gulfs the shot you strike so clean.
9Good-fortune speed your ball upon its way
11Till crowds of Angels chant for evermore
12The miracle of your unbeaten score;
13And He who keeps all players in His sight,
14Walking the royal and ancient hills of light,
15Standing benignant at the eighteenth hole.
16To everlasting Golf consigns your soul.
Notes
7] Saint Andrew: the ancient city in Scotland that is the home of golf. Cleek: named after an old long iron in golf. Back to Line
8] Fifeshire: the county of St Andrew. Back to Line
10] Medal-Day: the day of a golf tournament in which the victor scores the lowest number of strokes. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2011
Form
Special Copyright
Out of copyright in the United States only.