Now is the time to oil the bats;
now is the time to dream the dream:
to find your whites (they’re really cream):
to clear the overwintering rats
from the pavilion – best use cats:
to pray this year the sun will beam
for nets outside, as captains deem,
(or if it rains, it’s indoor mats);
to stretch and exercise somewhat
and fire your village cricket crew
with feats that yearly are still told
(repeatedly by one old sot)
and cast on this year’s play the hue
of happy memories of gold.