Writer Of Renown Poem by Joyce Hemsley

British Author and Poet Sir Henry Newbolt
was born in eighteen sixty two, and died
one year prior to the Second World War.

Sir Henry was very well educated at
Clifton College, being 'Called to the Bar'
at an early age. He wrote famous poems
on the Sea and the Navy...
The Year of Trafalgar
Naval History of the War
Songs of the Sea.
The list of his literary work is endless.

Two of my favourite poems written by
Sir Henry Newbolt are ~ Admirals All
and Vitai Lampada. I still quote the latter
'off by heart' from my schooldays;
I now take the opportunity - for the
QUEEN'S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY
and the sporting season, to type just
twelve lines from a longer poem...
Vitai Lampada by Sir Henry Newbolt:

There's a breathless hush in the Close tonight
Ten to make and the match to win.
A bumping pitch and a blinding light
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of a ribbonned coat
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame
But the Captain's hand on his shoulder smote
Play up! play up! And play the game!

This they all, with a joyful mind
Bear through life, like a torch in flame
And falling fling to the host behind,
Play up! play up! And play the game!
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

How wonderful a Poet was
The Great Sir Henry Newbolt.