Confessions+of+a+Born+Spectator

Confessions of a Born Spectator

[|Biography Ogden Nash]

One infant grows up and becomes a jockey Another plays basketball or hockey This one the prize ring hates to enter That one becomes a tackle or center I am just glad as glad can be That I am not them, that they are not me

With all my heart I do admire Athletes who sweat for fun or hire Who take the field in gaudy pomp And maim each other as they romp

My limp and bashful spirit feeds On other people's heroic deeds Now A runs ninety yards to score B knocks the champion to the floor

<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">C risking vertebrae and spines <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Lashes his steed across the line <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">You'd think my ego it would please <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">To swap positions with one of these

<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Well, ego it might be pleased enough <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">But zealous athletes play so rough  <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">They do not ever in their dealings  <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Consider one another's feelings

<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">I'm glad that when my struggle begins <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> 'Twixt prudence and ego, prudence wins

<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">When swollen eye meets gnarled first <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">When snaps the knee, and cracks the wrist  <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">When officialdom demands  <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Is there a doctor in the stands? <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">My soul in true thanksgiving speaks <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">For this modest of physiques

<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">‘Athletes, I'll drink to you, <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Or eat with you  <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Or anything except compete with you  <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Buy tickets worth their radium   <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">To watch you gamble in the stadium

<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">And reassure myself anew <span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">That you are not me and I'm not you’. in between; neither one nor the other ||
 * //<span style="color: #010000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 19px;">Ogden Nash //**
 * ** 'twixt **

to act with regard for one's own interests ||
 * **prudence**

a radioactive chemical ||
 * **radium**

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Poem sourced from: // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Mahoney, B. (2009). //Poetry Reloaded.// Melbourne, VIC: Cambridge University Press

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Photo sourced from: //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">http://media.lonelyplanet.com/lpimg/28635/28635-13/preview.jpg