You are Old, Skipper !

An somewhat rather curious youth who is in awe of his senior leader !

Said a precocious nipper, to his experienced skipper;

"You are old yet still a cunning critter, 

a very handy hitter, 
you never miss a sitter, 

over point a classy chipper, 
of the pads a crafty clipper! 

And you bowl a deadly dipper, 

a floating flipper, 

mixed with the odd, rotating ripper, 
the batsmen's knees tremble and jitter,

as you run in patter-pitter, 
the only sound a little titter, 

when you release that stealth, stump splitter
to claim another 5 for, or double hat-tricker!
Not forgetting you are a serial,specialist slipper, 
a great fielder, catcher, grabber, gripper!
Pray tell, what makes you such an all round, cracking, cricketer"?

Replied the experienced skipper, to the precocious nipper;

"Now listen  carefully, young snapper-whipper!
Time is much too precious, to throw away or fritter,
for if you choose to wander, or simply be a quitter
you'll end up on the shelf like a moldy kipper
so here are my proven tips, from an expert tipper!
Practice makes perfect and helps get you fitter, 
so don't lay around too long, tweeting on that twitter
sending silly messages, by electronic transmitter!
Avoid smoking, or risk being a cougher and a spitter
though a social beer is recommended, or a pint of bitter
but don't go the way of many and be a steady sipper, 
wasting hard earned money and you may end up in the litter!
Find a supportive wife, who does not nag or nitter, 
enjoys cricket, is domesticated, a thrifty sewer, stitcher, knitter, 
don't fall for the first, who flashes long lashes with a flirtatious flitter!

Finally, enjoy the game and your career will surely glitter, 
but remember, the umpire is the adjudicator, judge, jury, the sole arbiter, 
his decision is final, so please, no back chat or silly chitter 

And if you prove yourself, someday my son, you shall be the skipper”!

Reviews

[Neville]

How on earth did I miss this one until now eh' I ask myself....The principles and lessons that may be learned from these sage like words can apply to all & any sport, oh' and life in general. Am bowled over mate...Hope you are well...........................N

[Tom]

Thank you Neville, yes doing well, how's you?

[Neville]

Hello Stranger....I'm okayish but could be far worse.... where have you been?,,

[Tom]

Have been on another poetry website mostly, but still try do call back here now & again to see my old buddies!! lol..

[Neville]

Do so hope you stick around for a while .....

[David Lewis Paget]

Very clever and a lot of fun.

[Yellow Butterfly]

What a brilliant poem...fun and witty...which almost felt like a ditty.. great rhyming too..

A cleverly structured write which I enjoyed reading.. :o)