We’re as ready as we’re going to be <br />The lads are fit and keen <br />Oh George’s lumbago plays him up <br />But, that goes for half the team <br /> <br />No, all in all we’re set to go <br />I think we’re at our best <br />Now Ron and me can only watch <br />The lads must do the rest <br /> <br />We’ve tried to keep them focused <br />To concentrate their minds <br />With only one small crisis <br />‘Harry’ left his teeth behind <br /> <br />So now it’s just the boys out there <br />Bowling on that green <br />Will the team end up as Champions <br />Or one of “might have beens” <br /> <br />Dave’s the one who worries me <br />He’s a bit young, and I’m not sure <br />That he has the “big game temperament” <br />The lads only sixty four <br /> <br /> Arthur, Jim and Smokin’ jack <br />Harry George and Fred <br />Oh Percy would have been there too <br />But he can’t be, ‘cos he’s dead. <br /> <br />The Burnage Veterans Bowling Team <br />It’s written in their eyes <br /> To win the Mauldeth Crown green Cup <br />Before another bugger dies. <br /> <br />No thoughts of frozen shoulders <br />Arthritic hands, or gout <br />No limps, no stoops, no hearing aids <br />The signs of age they flout <br /> <br />The Final ends, they’ve won it! <br />The championship is theirs <br />Send young Dave up to fetch the Cup <br />He has no problem with stairs. <br /> <br />So think on this young people <br />Next time you pass us by <br />We’re not just out there playing bowls <br />‘til it’s our turn to die!<br /><br />Bill Mitton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/we-are-the-champions/
