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 !!

[Mazie]

Wow, a beautiful piece, very nicely written. Language was great, I loved your use of words! A very humbling piece, nicely done :)

[Tom]

Thank you indeed CraziWriter !

[Mazie]

you're most welcome ^^

[Marie]

Silly me! I thought at first this wouldn't be about cricket...

[Tom]

It always seems to creep in somewhere Marie doesn't it ? Lol...And thanks for your welcome visit !

[Woody]

what a sumptuous read, Tom! the word choice, the rhyme and, of course, your beloved cricket.
I loved this, my friend.

[Tom]

Thank you kindly Woody for your welcome visit and appraisal !

[Sami Khalil]

"for working class folk, life was no idyllic dream
hard labour or starve, in contrast to the here and the now '

Your writes are out of this world but down to earth in the same time. There is always a lesson to convey, a hard fact to relay and a splendid story to tell. You are amazing...:).........................

[Tom]

Thank you Sami for your most kind & generous appraisal, humbling indeed !

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome muchly...:)...............................

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Sounds like victory was had by the underdogs!...

You have an innate talent for telling stories in such a riveting way... with gusto!

"Go big, or go home", as the saying goes in America...Tax free, eh?... yeah, I'll go with that... lol

Well told, my dear friend... Determination wins out!~xoxo~:)

[Tom]

Thank you Robbie, when the spirit is united and strong all things are possible !

[Sheila Kline]

Cheers of victory rang throughout the land as those considered to be the least were in reality always the best, as our Cricket master entertains us once again with a delightful accounting of this legendary event (ah, it does not matter if it is actually true or not...is it?) to entertain the likes of all of us! A mayor who pays the taxes, and then rises up from the ashes of near death to celebrate a well earned victory for his team!!

Tom you are so very talented - your ability to weave a story seems to know no bounds, especially when you speak of the game that is ever dear to your heart! Your rhyming, flow is flawless and your story is absolutely 100% entertainment! When I had read the first two verses, I was already asking, "Now where is Cricket in all of this", and lo and behold the field was full of players engaged in full sport. And good for those dishonest ruffians to lose the game and their money to boot!!
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

[Tom]

Thank you Sheila for your wonderful, praiseworthy review and indeed, I do try to write without including cricket, but it always creeps in and takes over ?? Lol...

[Sophy Freebirds]

"Attired in official vermillion"- yes the sign of victory indeed.This story is so encouraging.There should be a sense of fairplay in each game.But when the opposition cheats as Upton did,wear your helmets chase the cricket ball out of the park!! The team spirit is all that counts.never let your team down.our dance troop is participating in a competition.. And this poem of yours boosted me up. Thank you for sharing this amigo.. Cheers to teamspirit ;)

~Sophy

[Tom]

Yes indeed Sophy, there are certain things that money cannot buy and you highlight that so well in your impressive critique, thank you so much !

[Lydia Shutter]

He waived the taxes? Well, hell, I'd vote for this mayor any time! :) Wait, how did he pay for this Kilgore Cricket Club without taxes? Hmmmm....can we dig him up and have him write a book on government for us? I especially enjoyed the imagery of "the sun chased off the clouds." Upton might have had those professional players, but Kilgore had something far more important....they had the team spirit! I could almost hear Patsy's fiddle playing at the victory party. Tom, you have told such an endearing story in rhyme here. Delightful...with a great message. Never give up...just because someone seems to be stronger, does not mean he can win. Lydi**

[Tom]

Thank you Lydia and indeed, if the spirit is united it will grow in strength and overcome any seemingly insurmountable opposition !