Mind Games
There were no gold medals to pin
and no starters gun to begin
but for sure we were out to win
the Baptism of Fire Games.
There on the PCG we played
and so it was the toss was made
but the dumb Kiwi looked afraid
and down he went in flames
But like the phoenix he raised up
and from his beer had one more sup
wishing like hell he had a cup
or box to protect him.
But the very next ball he’d face
was a yorker at his shoelace
honing in at frightening pace
and things were looking grim
There he was on the greentop mat
jumping up and down like a cat
on a hot tin roof with his bat
like a hack tailender.
So lest he retire hurt or worse
and need a doctor or a nurse
or be carried off in a hearse
I asked “you surrender?”
As the “Ashes” in us did burn
soon at the crease it was my turn
and for him a lesson to learn
like in the Rangi nets.
You don’t bowl to Skeet in the slot
or give him width to play a shot
when he shouts “gimme all you got”
and plunders all he gets
As the cricket lesson went on
it was like bowling to “The Don”
when victory was sweetly won
till new lows he did stoop.
It’s no place for the faint hearted
but I ended what he started
when his next ball I high carted
over the chicken coup
Yes, we played many a rematch
under the house on his home patch
but a win he’d so seldom snatch
from the jaws of defeat.
I recall it sure was fun though
when a new grip he’d wildly throw
and smashed the veranda window
as Ted sat in his seat
Under his arm his bat he tucks
when he scored two first ball king ducks
and yelled all innocent “that sucks!
Skeet, I wasn’t ready”.
But the video didn’t lie
so he erased it and that’s why
to this very day he’ll deny
so “I ain’t out” said he
At every play and miss I’d smile
or when he’d in his tourettes style
nick one more into the woodpile
and then refuse to walk.
But I’d wait for the umpire’s call
and check behind the keeper’s wall
then re-tape up the tennis ball
and let him talk the talk
For whether clean bowled or an edge
he’d lose it and begin to sledge
or unfair dismissal allege
and grand excuses make.
But I with a twinkle and spark
in my eye walked back to my mark
musing to myself “what the fark!”
and took a long drinks break
It was like the boasts of our youth
but you don’t have to be a sleuth
to discern bullsh-it from the truth
the pointed finger blames.
And so it was back in the day
until stumps or bad light stopped play
back in his garage in Browns Bay
we played out our Mind Games
Written: March 2014
Cricket always brought out
the competitive streak in us.
Copyright © Keith D Trestrail | Year Posted 2022
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