[for 13 May 2012] by Morgan Dockrell

Back in a Year obscured by Mists of Time,
When some of us had barely reached our prime,
Two Visionaries formed a Club Archival,
Which, MIRACLE! now celebrates survival
Over, to be precise, a Quarter Century,
Marked by your un-barred Bard in rhymes adventury;
Their laid down On-Field-Doctrine underpinning:-
‘Pursuit of Pleasure counts for more than winning.’
This eddie-fying Ethic, strict, devout,
Ensures our Club survives, NOT peters out.

Our Founding Fathers further built Tradition
During this Dalkey Summit brain-ignition,
For, sensing that, at least in early days,
Before the cricket world was set ablaze,
Some Potion was required, post battle-heat,
To dull the deep despair of dire defeat…
OR on those rare occasions, moments glorious,
When we, [oh miracle!] escaped, victorious –
THEN,[in our ARCHIVES this word NEVER dims]
With one accord the Brain-Twain uttered, ‘PIMMS!“

Our Home Ground, all these years a priceless boon;
Tower’d Castle Park, for me it’s Castle Toone,
In memory of that Grand Old Man, the Founder,
Who bucked me up when I began to flounder;
Of CP’s Chief Religion the High Priest,
To whom my gratitude has never ceased;
Who opened doors which helped fill many a shelf,
Who gave me confidence to build myself.
My Dalkey Archives, starting years ago,
Continued with The Wallis/Blackstock Show.

This metric innings I should straightway end
If I would hope to keep a single friend,
So I’ll apply a verbal guillotine
To what I COULD enlarge on, scene by scene…
A detailed Chronicle of WHAT HAS BEEN.

Permit me now four final lines of latitude:-
For friendship, laughter, loyal support: DEEP GRATITUDE.
For sun-filled evenings in the D/A ranks,
My SECOND CP INNINGS: heart-felt THANKS.

 

NOTE *.

BARD’S ERROR! THIS HISTORIC MEETING GLEESOME
WAS, WITH BRUCE HILL, EXPANDED TO A THREESOME.