English poem
I
by John Stephen Farmer (1854–1916)
He took the knock! No more with jaunty air He'll have the "push" that made the punter stare; No more in monkeys now odds on he'll lay And make the ever grumbling fielder gay. One plunger more has had his little flare And then came to Monday when he couldn't "square"; Stripped of his plunees a poor denuded J He took the knock! Where is he now? Ah! echo answers "where"? Upon the turf he had his little day And when, stone-broke, he could no longer pay Leaving the ring to gnash its teeth and swear He took the knock!
[1: gave in] [2: £500] [3: opportunity] [4: pay up] [5: fellow] [6: ruined]
THE RHYME OF THE RUSHER [1892]
[By DOSS CHIDERDOSS in Sporting Times, 29 Oct. In Appropriate Rhyming Slanguage].