December 19th, 2000, to pb
Poems index

2nd Innings

"... and so it's tea, this second innings,
as 12th men come on, stumps are rested,
gloves unsheathed, and silly points
down dusky fragrant cups of twilight tea...
bliss indeed to follow on - 
a match so fraught with controversy;
dogged stands, bad light,
decisions dubious at best
(what do you think, Fred?)
tampered flinging fingers, far from grace ...

"... well, Brian, we've seen t' game
swing back and forth from downright
brilliance to absurdity.
In my day ... well, I can only say ...
these buggers ... just put bat to t' ball
wear 'em out ... no mind of slips 
and fancy wherewithalls, these
short mid-ons and offs, and state of play, and
how's yer father, shape of ball ...
come on now ... get down to 't.

"... thank you, Geoff, and just before 
we hear the latest news from County Grounds,
heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Green of 
Maidenhead, who sends a
chocolate-covered, oval cake, so
well-preserved, it seems a shame to ...
oh, John, I see you've already ..."

"Due to a technical problem,
we interrupt this broadcast, to play
a selection from Massenet's ballet ...
the composer was only seventeen when he 
wrote this work, which apparently
came to him in a dream, as he 
recovered from endemic hallucinations ...

"... and welcome again to Old  Trafford, where
tea has been taken, socks rolled up,
light rollers ensconced in the pavilion,
covers at the ready, umpires set, and
the first ball of the session is delivered by a
refreshed, but still ungainly ...
just a minute ... what was that?
movement behind the bowler's arm? Chris?"

"... you'd think that ... no, the pitch has been
invaded by over-enthusiastic fans, eager to 
clap heroes' backs, as police and 
players try to unstop play, and 
make the most of limited overs re-
maining to this sceptred strip of
lawn, strewn now in frenzied sea 
of caps and pads and old school ties, and
bats and wickets, blazers, flannels, flying
high in bouncing, beaming body lines,
o'er hallowed ground ..."

"... that's right, Derek, and strange to say,
the chaos that we're witnessing is one of
joy, of unsurpassed congratulation, as if
the world is celebrating cricket, unconcerned   with (could we have the figures, Bill?) ...
results; in fact one could say this is the result ..."

... and not a ball bowled since tea...