Cricket Poetry Award 2011

A reminder that the annual Cricket Poetry Award deadline in Australia looms: 31 August 2011. Get your entries in now along with your entry fee of $A20.00. Check out the official website for full details and conditions of entry: http://www.cricketartprize.org/cricket-poetry-award/

This year’s theme is social cricket, beach cricket and club cricket.

Here’s an extract from last year’s winner, ‘Gentleman Jim’, by Matt Young:

He brings a certain dignity
Exudes a certain charm
He works with an integrity
No fuss and no alarm
A vestige of the golden age
He has those austere looks
Like timeless art and Shakespeare’s plays
Or well thumbed fav’rite books
His essence is humanity

…

And every summer Sat’day sees
Old Jim out at the ground
Impartial as the summer breeze
And judgment always sound
And every player loves old Jim
Respecting his good name
And for his passion they thank him
This doyen of the game

See also my blog post from last year: Cricket Poetry Award.