Ode to Golf / Andrew Lang

'Delusive Nymph, farewell!'

How oft we've said or sung,

When balls evasive fell,

Or in the jaws of 'Hell,'

Or salt sea-weeds among,

'Mid shingle and sea-shell!

How oft beside the Burn,

We play the sad 'two more';

How often at the turn,

The heather must we spurn;

How oft we've 'topped and swore,'

In bent and whin and fern!

Yes, when the broken head

Bounds further than the ball,

The heart has inly bled.

Ah! and the lips have said

Words we would fain recall--

Wild words, of passion bred!

In bunkers all unknown,

Far beyond 'Walkinshaw,

Where never ball had flown--

Reached by ourselves alone--

Caddies have heard with awe

The music of our moan!

Yet, Nymph, if once alone,

The ball hath featly fled--

Not smitten from the bone--

That drive doth still atone;

And one long shot laid dead

Our grief to the winds hath blown!

So, still beside the tee,

We meet in storm or calm,

Lady, and worship thee;

While the loud lark sings free,

Piping his matin psalm

Above the grey sad sea!