Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line.
Lines 37-40
With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew;
But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two."
- Stanza 10 begins with a downright saintly description of our hero, Casey.
- Despite being, in the crowd's eyes, wronged by the evil empire… sorry, that's evil umpire, Casey stands there with a beatific (look it up—your SAT verbal score will thank you) smile on his face.
- His serenity in the face of injustice calms the murderous crowd and allows the game to continue.
- Once some order has been restored. Casey lets the pitcher know that he's ready for the next pitch.
- The pitcher throws once more ("once more the spheroid flew") but Casey doesn't swing at this pitch either. The umpire calls the second strike.
- Remember: with three strikes Casey is out, the game is over, and Mudville gets the loss. This is getting serious—fingernail biting time.