In politics there’s room for jest; <br />With frequent gibes are speeches met, <br />And measures which are of the best <br />Are themes for caustic humor yet. <br />E’en though the pulpiteer we fret <br />With sundry quiddities we fling, <br />We pray you never to forget <br />That cricket is a serious thing. <br /> <br />The crowd assembles at a Test, <br />And Hobbs at length is fairly set, <br />Though Gregory rocks ‘em in with zest; <br />The barrackers may fume and fret <br />When Parkin has contrived to get <br />Five men of ours – we feel the sting, <br />And give expression to regret, <br />For cricket is a serious thing. <br /> <br />They have the lead; we would arrest <br />A sort of rot. No epithet <br />Is proper, though they’ve got our best <br />For next to nothing, and your bet <br />Is good as lost. Don’t sit and sweat; <br />Due reverence to the problem bring. <br />We have a pile of runs to net – <br />Ah, cricket is a serious thing.<br /><br />Edward George Dyson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cricket-is-a-serious-thing/
