Edwin Arlington Robinson

Here you will find the Poem Doctor of Billiards of poet Edwin Arlington Robinson

Doctor of Billiards

Of all among the fallen from on high, 
We count you last and leave you to regain 
Your born dominion of a life made vain 
By three spheres of insidious ivory. 
You dwindle to the lesser tragedy?
Content, you say. We call, but you remain. 
Nothing alive gone wrong could be so plain, 
Or quite so blasted with absurdity. 

You click away the kingdom that is yours, 
And you click off your crown for cap and bells;
You smile, who are still master of the feast, 
And for your smile we credit you the least; 
But when your false, unhallowed laugh occurs, 
We seem to think there may be something else.