Tales in Verse for Young People By Mary Howitt: New Edition |
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SONG FOR THE BALL-PLAYERS. |
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 | Tales in Verse for Young People |  |
155
SONG FOR THE BALL-PLAYERS.
Up goes the ball with might and main,
And soon it cometh down again;
Ups and downs, I've heard them say,
For many a year is the world's way.
And soon it cometh down again;
Ups and downs, I've heard them say,
For many a year is the world's way.
Up goes the ball—like a goblet-cup;
Hold your hand as you send it up!
Down it comes—ere it reach the ground
Catch the ball so firm and round!
Hold your hand as you send it up!
Down it comes—ere it reach the ground
Catch the ball so firm and round!
An up and a down, that is the way,
With a good round ball, that you must play;
Up, high as you can, then down again,
Five and five, and a double ten.
With a good round ball, that you must play;
Up, high as you can, then down again,
Five and five, and a double ten.
The world is a ball, and every star,
And the sun himself, great balls they are;
Round they go, and round about,
Ever and ever, yet ne'er are out!
And the sun himself, great balls they are;
Round they go, and round about,
Ever and ever, yet ne'er are out!
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Up goes the ball! oh, if I threw
Up to the very sky so blue,
Up to the moon, or to Charles's Wain,
'Twould be long ere the ball came down again!
Up to the very sky so blue,
Up to the moon, or to Charles's Wain,
'Twould be long ere the ball came down again!
An up and a down—that is the way,
With a good round ball, that you must play;
Up, high as you can, and down again,
Ten and ten, and six times ten!
With a good round ball, that you must play;
Up, high as you can, and down again,
Ten and ten, and six times ten!
Face to the shade, and back to the shine;
Send up your balls with a toss like mine.
Straight as a dart, as if 'twere cast
From the spring of a mighty arbalast!
Send up your balls with a toss like mine.
Straight as a dart, as if 'twere cast
From the spring of a mighty arbalast!
There it goes! good-luck to the ball!
Here it comes, with a plumping fall;
How merry it is, our balls to throw,
Standing together thus in a row!
Here it comes, with a plumping fall;
How merry it is, our balls to throw,
Standing together thus in a row!
An up and a down, that is the way,
With a good round ball, that you must play;
Up, high as you can, and down again,
Now we have counted ten times ten.
With a good round ball, that you must play;
Up, high as you can, and down again,
Now we have counted ten times ten.
| Tales in Verse for Young People | |