A Brighter World – Golf Poetry

A BRIGHTER WORLD 

LOOKS as if the world is better 
Than it used to be, 
Even if the rain seems wetter 
And the lightning free ; 
Even if there seems more thunder 
Than we used to hear — 
I've a forearm putt — a wonder 
That I've learned this year. 

Looks as if the world is brighter 
Than in former days, 
Even if the banks are tighter 
And the lank wolf stays. 
Troubles, all imaginary. 
Gather day by day ; 
Playing eighty, regularly. 
Wipes them all away. 

Looks as if the world is cleaner 
Than it used to be; 
Life itself, friends, is serener; 
Leastwise, so to me. 
For my worry is behind me, 
Running all the while; 
Wrinkles nevermore can find me — 
I have found my style. 

Jesse G. Clare in Lyrics of the Links, published in 1921

I am struck by the reference to a “forearm putt,” a style which came (back) into vogue a couple of years ago.