The Mayor of Kilgore

Once upon a time it may have began this way ?

In the bygone era of shire horse and steam
when erstwhile men still followed the plough,
for working class folk, life was no idyllic dream
hard labour or starve, in contrast to here and now

The town of Kilgore an industrious place
linen and turf, the main produce and trade,
its workforce toiled daily at an unyielding pace,
united in pride by their skill with shuttle and spade

The Mayor of the town an affable peer
valued greatly, the effort his citizens gave,
he encouraged them all with relevant cheer
as the annual taxes and levy's he'd gratefully waive

But work without play makes Jack and Jill rather dull
so this innovative man, requisitioned some land,
realising, that to maximise productivity and avoid lull
recreation lifts morale, which further helps business expand

So hence the inception of Kilgore Cricket Club
a venue where townspeople would meet after work,
to play, spectate and fraternise at this new social hub,
even the Mayor a regular patron, chaperoned by his clerk

They entered a first eleven into the county league
hardy men from the community united in cause,
and despite some initial derision and combat fatigue,
Kilgore soon were proficient at the game, it's spirit and laws

By the following summer like cream, they'd reached the top
admired the county over, filling grounds home or away,
in each discipline, their players the pick of the crop
capturing the league title, such was their fine style of play

But jealously distinguishes not, betwixt commoner or lord
so when Kilgore made the final of the Varsity cup,
Upton Old Boys the opposition, aware of potential discord
hired a few professional players to avoid any embarrassing slip up

Crowds thronged to the stadium, gentlemen and dames
as the sun chased the clouds like an observant sentry,
and though some chaps were playing under stage names
who would suspect misdemeanor from respected gentry?

Upton chose to bat first, their skipper called the toss
having scant regard of Kilgore's ability to inflict a rout,
what could possibly go wrong, against lower class dross?
But those of arrogant disposition often acquire a bloody snout!

It started well for their batsmen, Upton's two skilful ringers
nonchalantly striking the ball to applause and cheers of approval,
but a change to a bowler, more adept at in and out swingers,
dismissed both, then what followed was sheer wholesale removal

After a calamitous collapse, tea, though Upton still optimistic
as chasing such a paltry total, would be no stroll in the park,
for within their ranks, a charlatan who bowled ballistic
and with victory secured, none would suspect duplicity or pass remark

Just as Kilgore's one and two, strolled out to the middle
in a nearby cottier's cottage lay dying, Patsy McSwiggan,
an old turf cutter and character, who enjoyed playing the fiddle,
his heart now weary from long years, spent lifting and digging

As a good pastor and family circle, solemnly stood by his bed
outdoors a paperboy yelled, " read all about an unlikely upset,"
then instantly up jumped the old navvy and exuberantly said,
"Please excuse me, I'm off to the bookmakers to place a bet

By now Kilgore's brave batsmen, their teeth firmly sunk in
like tenacious bull-terriers whose bloodlines are meticulously bred,
they countered the onslaught, ball after ball rearing up at their chin
by ruthlessly dispatching it back over the bowler's head!

As the Upton players capitulated and crumbled in tow
their chairman and committee panel sat by the pavilion,
tendered their resignations, coinciding with the victorious blow
and Kilgore's proud Mayor raised the cup, attired in official vermillion

Despite Upton prevarication, speculation and rumour ran rife
the vanquished finalists had dug deep at immense personal cost,
by recruiting outside assistance, then fell on their own knife
as their mercenary players could not compete and hence they lost

The victory celebrations lasted long into the wee small hours
many more joined the party, including a healthier, wealthier Patsy McSwiggan
for the spirit of working folk had knocked the toffs from their ivory towers,
and to Patsy's fine fiddling they brought the cup to Kilgore, still singin'and jiggin'!

Author's Note

Human spirit is much deeper than a rich man's pocket !

Reviews

[Beccy]

What a gift these back pages of Writer's café are. I was utterly absorbed from first line to last in this wonderful story poem and it was with consummate skill and wry humour that you charted the fall of the Upton charlatans.

Long live Kilgore and the human spirit. Beccy.

[Tom]

You got it Beccy & thank you for your perceptive comments !!

[barleygirl]

Not into sports or society of any kind myself, so I'm not a good judge of a poem like this. But even a clueless clunker like me can see you've outdone yourself as far as throwing down an epic poem. I have the utmost regard for your tenacious approach to telling a story in verse! I need a nap just thinking about being this focused & maintaining rhyme & rhythm until the cows come home! Here's wishing you a delightful Christmas week with hopefully some togetherness thrown in! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Einstein Noodle]

yes it is! very well said ..story kept me attentons start to finish ..enjoyed the lilt of your language and especially like this:
"as the sun chased the clouds like an observant sentry,"
:)
E.

[Tom]

Thank you Einstein !

[Neville]

What a truly splendid gift of a journey back in time you have given us here Tom.

I feel as though I have been whisked back to a place in time when steam was, indeed king. And now, as far as I am concerned, your 'The Mayor of Kilgore' could and should now be made into a short film or something similar for even more of us out here to enjoy.

Furthermore, despite having now read it in it's entirety on four separate occasions, I still find it highly amusing. It is one of those writes that is ragged and real. You have a unique style my friend, for heavens sake keep writing....N

[Tom]

Thanks indeed Neville for your always welcome visit and very supportive review of my 'little' story !

[Norman T]

What a magnificent narrative poem both in it's story and it's stylish poetic construction. So many features of the story were so realistic, that l began to think it was factual. Lydia brought me back to earth with her comment on waiving the taxes of course. Pity, I was revelling in euphoria until then
Great fun Tom. I loved it!!!

Norman

[Tom]

Thanks indeed Norman for your wonderful appraisal !

[AYVID N]

Wow...I loved the story and held my breath during the game. You could be a very good cricket commentator Tom! Have you tried your hand at it? Well, the message is great too. Never underestimate the underdog! A unique and refreshing poem with a good story line and a lot of pep and energy! Of course your unique signature on it.

[Tom]

Many thanks again DIVYA, yes indeed I do enjoy telling a little story interwoven throughout the game!

[AYVID N]

It is my pleasure Tom!

[A. Amos]

your poetic story was brilliant my friend, truly enjoyed the read.

[Tom]

Thank you A.

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

lol. Cricket again. Thanks to that mayor. And another lesson we can get from this Cricket poem.
The rhyming magic of Tom never fades!

[Tom]

Thank you Dhaye & yes indeed you know me well enough by now, there's always a little moral tale somewhere in my cricket adventures !