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More Cricket Songs By: Norman Gale (1862-1942) |
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by Norman Gale Author of "Cricket Songs" "Barty's Star" "A Country Muse" And other
works. 1905
DEAR JOHN DENTON, Not long ago you reminded me that once, when you were a boy and I was
a schoolmaster, I was angry with you because you pouted all through a
lesson in arithmetic. Let bygones be bygones, and accept as a proof of
my continuing friendship the dedication of this little volume, in
which there are no other sums than those of the Telegraph. Most sincerely yours, NORMAN GALE.
Here's to the lad with his useful Fifteen,
Here's to the Bowler that's thrifty,
Here's to the Bat who is Lord of the Green
With his frequent and thundering Fifty!
For their courtesy in allowing him to reprint some of these songs the
Author thanks the Editor of The Westminster Gazette , Prince
Ranjitsinhji, Mr. James Bowden, the Editor of The Country , and the
Editor of The Sun .
OILING
THE GOLDEN GAME
THE FEMALE BOY
THE DARK BOWLER
UNCLE BOB INDIGNANT
THE TUTOR'S LAMENT
A WIGGING
THE TWO KINGS
THE APPEAL
THE OLYMPIANS
THE OLD PROFESSIONAL
FIVE YEARS AFTER
DOCTOR CRICKET
PHILOSOPHY
THE ENTHUSIAST
CRICKET AND CUPID
A BOUNDARY
THE COMMENTATOR
LUCKY LADS
CRICKET IN THE GARDEN
THE PRINCE, BATTING
THE REASON
A LONG GRACE
REMEMBER, PLEASE!
THE FORERUNNERS
NET PRACTICE
THE CATCH OF THE SEASON OILING. (A Song In and Out of Season.)
Excuse me, Sweetheart, if I smear,
With wisdom learnt from ancient teachers,
Now winter time once more is here,
This grease upon your lengthy features!
Behaving thus, your loyal friend
No whit encourages deception:
Believe me, Fairest, in the end
This oil will better your complexion.
Fairest, believe! Did you imagine in the bag
To sleep the sleep of Rip Van Winkle,
Removed from sunshine's golden flag
And duller daylight's smallest twinkle?
Well have you earned your rest; but yet,
Although disturbance seem uncivil,
Unless your cheeks and chin be wet
With oil, your beauteousness will shrivel.
Rarest, believe! Absorb, that, when for our delight
The May unpacks its lovely blossom,
With beaming face, with shoulders bright
You leave the bag's congenial bosom.
Then shall the Lover and his Lass
Walk out toward the pitch together,
And, glorying in the shaven grass,
Tackle, with mutual faith, the leather.
Dearest, absorb!
THE GOLDEN GAME.
If ever there was a Golden Game
To brace the nerves, to cure repining,
To put the Dumps to flight and shame,
It's Cricket when the sun is shining!
Gentlemen, toss the foolscap by,
Gentlemen, change from books to leather!
Breathe your fill of the breeze from the hill,
Thanking Bliss for the great blue weather. If ever there was a bag could beat
The box possessed by Miss Pandora,
'Tis that in which there cuddle neat
The tools to shape the flying Fourer.
Gentlemen, watch the purple ball!
Gentlemen, keep your wits in tether!
Take your joy with the heart of a boy
Under the dome of the big blue weather. If ever I feel my veins abound
With zealous blood more fit for Twenty,
'Tis when upon the shaven ground
Fair Fortune gives me runs in plenty.
Gentlemen all, while sinews last,
Bat ye, bowl ye, friends together!
Play the play till the end of your day,
Mellowest mates in the big blue weather! But ever the ancient tale is told,
And History (the jade!) repeated:
By Time, who's never over bowled,
At last we find ourselves defeated.
Gentlemen all, though stiff we be,
Youth comes along in finest feather,
Just as keen as we all have been
Out on the turf in the great blue weather! There's ever the deathless solace left
To gaze at younger heroes smiting,
Of neither grit nor hope bereft,
Up to the end for victory fighting.
Gentlemen all, we taste delight,
Banished now from the stream and heather,
Calm and cool on an old camp stool,
Watching the game in the big blue weather!
THE FEMALE BOY... Continue reading book >>
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Poetry |
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