[John Whitworth]

Competition No 108

A poem called 'The Last of England' using the following words as rhymes in this order: fair, light, stand, bay, air, spray, land, roar, fling, strand, begin, bring, in. Closing date 13th feb. email comps@theoldie.co.uk

My own effort may be disqualified. Is Eng-land actually land? I realise it may be incomprehensible to most of you. K.P. and Monty are English cricketers. Lord's is a cricket ground, THE cricket ground.

I see Chris O'Carroll is in the money again in Speccie land.

Competition No. 108: The Last of England

Nobody’s leaving Lord’s tonight:
Eight wickets down, the glass set fair,
And three to win in fading light.
The boozers in the Compton Stand
Cease singing and begin to bay.
Their raucous chorus splits the air,
Stomping and chanting as they spray
Stale beer about, ‘Eng-land! Eng-land!’
KP must do it now. A roar,
‘He’ out! He’s OUT!' Wild Aussies fling
Hats to the wide as every strand
Of English hair stands up. Begin
Again, ‘Eng-land! Eng-land!’ and bring
Our last hope out. For Monty’s in.