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Rhyme and reason

It couldn't be verse, I thought this time
And if you haven't got the pun, your problem, not mine!
But, sure, they proved me wrong yet again,
Worse it was, heads shake in vain.

The boy is back, furiouser yet? Faster too?
Ban and all that, what a to do.
I'm happy for the lad, no mistake about that
But them that rules, they've re-established a fact.

Decisions can be quick, and popular too,
Oftentimes easier to revert than rule.
Because where strong words are spoken, ire not hidden
Dalmiya and co., they do as they're bidden.

This time of course, it seemed like justice in haste
Hours of toil and practice, not going to waste
Nothing comes from nothing, as if it could?
But from all this hullabaloo, did emerge some good.

So, one day matches, eh? Hope for some reprieve, you'd think.
Every time, I think this is my call, I'm ditched at the brink!
Robin's back, obviously he makes up the number,
Time for me to catch up on yet more slumber.

Have I got you sobbing at my fate yet?
Not one of you guys reading this, I bet.
Damn, that's my life, got to learn to live with it
Surviving on the strength of words and wit.

Even as I write, I can feel the pain ebbing
The sight of Akhtar did have me thinking.
I have to be mad to want to be there!
Much rather cheer 'em up, from my waterboy's chair.

So, who am I kidding, certainly not you!
It's all right, it'll come what's due.
Till then I'm searching for ways to amuse,
Me and my bretheren, adjudged refuse.

Another word on this, and you can seal my fate.
Cribbers I dislike. Repetitiveness I hate!
Hey, any of you there a betting man?
Oh sorry, that question could earn me a ban.
But perchance you are, and want to make a killing.
(Who do you think will be doing some quick billing?!)
Well, as I was saying, put your money on the team,
Whose bowlers be extracting the most steam.

Because the way things are going, at least at the Gabba,
Success will fall to the man with the ball (Ha! Ha!)
Just kidding, of course, no offense intended.
But if cricket be the medium, a lot of ties would be mended.

Because this is the only battle which truly makes peace.
The beauty of the action bringing those who see it to their knees.
In this, there is a winner who emerges at the end of the day
Even better, the loser does get another day to play.

The powers that be, could take a lesson from a sport
Where envy and jealousy, not feelings we support.
When its said, may the best man win, its said with feeling
Because losing is not an end, but just a beginning.

Of a process of learning, from those that fared better.
And from ourselves, understanding our faults to a letter.
Its not about an attempt to outdo the other team,
But, about learning to be the best on our own steam.

Ending on a note, not associated with me?
But, it's the way I would like my world to be.
It can't be perfect, I know that as well as any other
But an attempt to make it better, can never be a bother.

Can it?

The Spare Crib/Abhilasha Khaitan