don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines. - Satchel Paige [yeah, yeah, i know it's not baseball, but (i don't know much about it, since i don't follow sports) I understand some important baseball stuff has happened recently in the news, something about some young horses (fillies?) or something. anyway, here's a tribute, of sorts, of sports.] The Cricketing Versions (for Simon Rae) - by Wendy Cope "There isn't much cricket in the Cromwell play." (overheard at a dinner party) There isn't much cricket in Hamlet either, There isn't much cricket in Lear. I don't think there's any in Paradise Lost * - I haven't a copy right here. * Apparently there is. "Chaos umpire sits,/And by decision more embroils the fray." Paradise Lost, Book II, lines 907-8 But I like to imagine the cricketing versions - Laertes goes out to bat And instead of claiming a palpable hit, The prince gives a cry of 'Howzat!' While elsewhere the nastier daughters of Lear (Both women cricketers) scheme To keep their talented younger sister Out of the England team, And up in the happy realms of light When Satan is out (great catch) His team and the winners sit down together For sandwiches after the match. Although there are some English writers Who feature the red leather ball, You could make a long list of the players and the books In which there's no cricket at all. To be perfectly honest, I like them that way - The absence of cricket is fine. But if you prefer work that includes it, please note That now there's some cricket in mine.