THE BEST OF ME
by STEPHEN SPENCE
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE Out There You Are Where I Know Not; My Heart, It Feels You, It Knows You. But My Eyes They Do Not See You, My Ears Don’t Hear You, My Hands Can’t Touch You. May One Day We Meet, And Our Two Hearts Become One; For Without You I Am Crazy; I May As Well Lose My Mind Because Life Without You Dare Not Be Called Life For Hell Suffers Less. So May One Day My Eyes See Yours, My Hand Touch Yours, And My Ears Hear The Words That Exit Your Beautiful Lips And Calms My Unsettled Soul. Until That Day, Dream I Shall And Wait For Then… But For Now… Goodbye
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FOREFATHERS’ CRIES
A SCARY WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY CRIME, VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE, AND FULL OF DISMAY. OUR YOUTHS GROW UP TO FOLLOW THIS TREND. OUR PLANET MOVES ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE END. END. WHY DO THESE YOUTHS DO WHAT THEY DO? SHOW LOVE, NOT HATRED BETWEEN ME AND YOU. WE ATTEND THE SAME SCHOOL, WE FIGHT ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS NOT THE WAY, FOR I AM YOUR BROTHER. NOW TEARS THIS SCENE BRINGS TO MY EYES. LISTEN NOW YOUTHS TO YOUR FOREFATHERS’ FOREFATHERS’ CRIES.
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A TRUE FRIEND A true friend you shall always be, One to last eternity. When I’m down, and almost out, You’re the one I think about. So in your times of sadness, Or when you’re down and blue. Just remember that I’ll be there for you.
A SPECIAL PRAYER Thank You God for my friends for life. Thank You God for my future wife. Thank You God for my College ring Thank You God for everything AMEN
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LAST WORDS If You Were To Die, What Would Your Last Words Be? To Friends, Loved Ones, To Family? I Would Say I Love You, And Please Do Not Cry. As Life Begins To Leave Me, On My Deathbed I Lie. You Made My Life Worth Living, You Kept Me Alive, You Helped Me To Achieve, You Forced Me To Strive. If My Last Words To You Weren’t Good, Please Do Not Fret; These Are The Ones, I Most Deeply Regret. Live Your Life Well I Say To The Ones That I Love, I Will Never Leave You I’ll Be Here From Above…
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PARADISE Green Trees, Cool Wind, Quiet Mountains Here, Blue Sky, White Clouds. Silence Everywhere. I Sit Here And Look Around, This Is What I See. A Beautiful Environment Accompanying Me. The Breeze Blows Calm, And Cool; And Takes Away My Stress As Relaxation Hits Me, I Finally Get Some Rest. I Fly Away And Leave My Thoughts And Troubles All Behind. Now So Free And Worry-Less I Have An Empty Mind Now I Must Leave Here; Paradise I Must Flee. Return Now To My Home, Back To Reality.
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The Heart My Heart Now Beating Heavy, The sound I can now hear. It has left to join another, For which it can love and care. But will that other care the same And make them become one? Or will it do as others did And break it just for fun? So please let our two heats join To make an everlasting bond; Now together, we grow stronger; And push our love beyond.
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THAT GIRL That girl, I can’t get her off my mind That girl, I think about her all the time. That girl, touches my heart, makes me feel free. That girl is like the missing part of me. Don’t be “that girl” be “my girl” is what I must ask. I promise; it won’t be a regrettable task.
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FREE Exams are almost over, The end I can now see Just a few more days, Right there; nearly free. For this remaining one exam, I try to do my best. And after it is done and gone, I’ll have three months of rest. And for this time, I don’t intend To just relax and sit back. For by the start of the next school year, Intelligence I would lack. I’m not tell you, that in this time You cannot nave some fun. All that I am saying is: EDUCATION HAS JUST BEGUN! 8
DEAR LADY Your eyes so beautiful, Your voice so sweet. You smile so wonderful, Your hair so neat. ‘Dear Lady, I love you’ These words I want to say. But every time I try to, No sound comes out your way.
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I CAN BE A POET I KNOW I CAN BE. I FEEL IT DEEP INSIDE OF ME. A TALENT I NOW KNOW I POSSES, RELAXES ME IN TIMES OF STRESS. WRITING IS GREAT, THIS I LOVE TO DO THANKS TO THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT I GOT FROM YOU. MAYBE ONE DAY I’LL BECOME THAT GREAT POET. AND YOU’LL BE THAT PERSON THAT I’LL NEVER FORGET.
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JUST ASK Love Is In The Air, I Know It; But Does She? If I Bring It In The Open Then Together We Could Be It Is Because Of Who I Am That I Do Not Do This Task Even Though It Is So Simple I Just Have To Ask But What If She Doesn’t Feel The Same? Then Ashamed I Would Be That This Darling, Angel That I Love Feels Not The Same For Me. Maybe Tomorrow, Or Sometime Soon Some Courage I Will Get And Tell Her How I Feel About Her That! I Won’t Regret. Hopefully She’ll Reply I Feel The Same Way Too. Then I Will Look Her In Her Eyes And Say _____I Love You. 11
Through the Skipper’s Eyes
Alas the battle has started with the team we must fight; We get the first move, the coin landed right. Bounce them with pace or blade them with wood? I know we can do it, both ways we could. Blade them with wood is what I choose; The ground is right for it, there’s no way we can lose. Our first two soldiers gear up, and head out to strike; Things start to go our way. A start, I the leader like. Then our fist man will fall, his guard he lets down. Beaten for pace, the bails hit the ground. Our third man we send in, a better striker is he; The ‘cherry’ now rougher, he’ll strike it easily. Almost immediately our third man gets out; No change did he make. Now what’s that about? Our fourth man goes out to join number two. This young man has skill, the gaps he hits through. These two keep calm and face the attack, It would be a while before either get back. They see us past lunch before number four goes; Now it’s my turn, I leader, I must do as I know. Together with the second; I see us past tea. We keep ourselves focus, experience is the key. One hundred, one fifty, two hundred, three; The total piles up number two gets a century. Runs and runs we continue to add, Boundaries after boundaries, we drive the bowlers mad.
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One hundred and eighty-eight had number two; I myself get a century that’s the best I can do. We last through day two, number two gets a double; Then he finally goes, we are not yet in trouble.
Five men down now, number seven joins me; We continue to bat, I get my double century. 543, the day end is near; What should I do? I think I’ll declare. Not a good choice, the decision was bad; Only two balls get bowled, the visitors are glad. The next day we start at a good pace, just about The first man falls, their leader gets out. The third man comes in, he didn’t last long My bowler finds the edge; the ball never reached the ground Their star man comes next, he too soon will go His stumps are shattered, as the ball flies past his toe. I seem to be a good leader, things going my way Or maybe it just might be my lucky day. More wickets we take, in the end all are gone A lead of 355, I make them follow on This time their warriors come out to play They only lose two by the end of the fourth day The visitors can’t win, eight wickets I need My bowlers bowl hard, they beg! They plead! 269 for four is their final score, Their star batsman assures it ends in a draw; In the process, a century he adds to his name. I’m not a bad captain. Cricket, What a game!
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THE FANS’ PLEA Once again, the coin lands right; What a team here, in my sight. The true warriors back, for all to see; A team, now to get us a victory. The true King also back, but not back to lead. Once he is here, that is all that we really need. Blade them with wood again is the call. Quite early again, the first man will fall. A returning true warrior was this one At least some damage to the visitors he could have done. Number three comes in next; also a returnee; Stay long and bat is what the fans plea. Hooking like the first, he too soon will go. THE MASTER! THE KING! Is next as we all know! A big cheer he gets from the fans, his home crowd. There wasn’t any doubt, so supporting and loud. Number two, the big scorer from the first match, Bats well with The King till he offers a catch. The slipsman to number two: Thank you my friend. A ninety-five run partnership comes to an end. Another ninety-five adds the Skipper and the Master, Between them and number two, they prevent a disaster. The new-ish man comes next, thirty-five in the first, This time a duck! MAN! Could it get worse? At the end of day one, 281 for 6. 159, the Great Man! He gave them good licks. Three wickets fall, the king he will stay; The greatest in the world, no doubt he knows his way.
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On his home ground, 196, he needs a four! But sorry to say, they will be no more! The best ball to probably ever be bowled. Kissing the bail, it ends the Great Master’s toll. So soft and silent- no one knows about, But soon all will know; The Great Man is OUT! A wonderful knock; they stand and applaud! We all know that this man is well adored. 347 in the end we make, What do the visors say? “That’s a piece of cake!” Seventy runs past before we get a breakthrough, Sixteen runs later, it’s eighty-six for two. Their star man, and leader now both at the crease, Settled and began to have a big feast. Ninety-five they get, before the star man is to go. Leg before to a young star, the crows cheers “Bravo!” A night watchman they send to see out the day. Their leader on ninety at the close of play. Early on day three the night watchman is bowled. Within the morning session the tail end will fold. Our opening batsman: the last four he will take. A lead of just fifty one is what the visitors make. Four wickets at bowling, batting once again he will fail We all know who he is, his name is_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Fourteen runs now, number three comes into the game, At least this time the visitors get a little pain. Number two with three, together they add sixty-five; Give the homeboys some hope, and keep the game alive. The King comes in next, CRACK! He hits a four. 200 runs now in the game. But he’ll add no more. The Skipper in next, only one, NOT EVEN TWO Yes he soon is gone, out LBW. 15
Two runs this innings, in the fist he got duck; I felt sorry for this man, only getting bad luck. The all rounder in next, ninety-two is the score. He and number three bat till the end of day four. Let’s hope these two bat as long as they can, Is what the fans say as Day five now in hand. This was not to be, as wickets fall like rain. Their man takes thirteen of ours; he caused us a great pain. Standing alone on 107 is number three. Getting in the process his eighth test century. The visitors need a mere total of 143. To get them a series lead and a test victory. Five runs an over they give us some licks Thirty runs is what they score in the first six. Luck on our side? Ha! Not at all! We get two men out, but guess what? Yes off A NO BALL! Two wickets fall but that’s all that we get, A stronger attack the skipper now regrets. We go one down with two left in a total of four tests. In the next game we should really try to do our best.
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A MASTER’S BURDEN The 3rd test begins at the start of this day; day; “We will bat first” My successor will say He has now won tosses three out of three If only a coin toss was a victory An opening stand of two the first pair will add I can now see the coach begin to get mad Ten runs later, number two had to go I the most most experienced must go now and show The King, Prince, Master, is what they call me My highest score: a record. A quadruple century. I am now out there, did not face a ball; No change to the score, number three now will fall Twelve runs for three. Man! What What a mess! My successor and I now have to dede-stress And that we do well, we add 158. My successor gets an edge, well hard luck mate. A good knock new skipper, a nice 53. I myself get triple figures; my 28th test century. 21 runs later, number six too will leave. Is everybody going? Am I left here to grieve? Number seven, the young allall-rounder now at my side. We bat well together; together with great pride. 115 we add, then I will be bowled. The bowler looks as if he has just found some gold. 176; short again again of a double century. Two games in a row; how could this happen to me? 2 runs later my young friend goes while the ball: still quite new. At the end of day 1; 7 for 292.
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We ask the tail to add only just 8 more. They all will fall quickly, they only add add 4. It’s our turn to field, strike early we must. Our inexperienced pacers is who we must trust. They get 191 191 before we get a breather, Our opening blader takes down their leader. Number three goes next, misjudging a run; They added 143, he got 71 Oh what what pain, the runs they continue to pour They declare 5 overs into day four. More than 70 each, their first four men will get. There’s still a lot of time. It’s not over yet. A great lead have the visitors, a massive 252. We have to play different; play proper proper and true. Yes we are tired; two days in the field. But we have to fight hard, this came we can’t yield. We get an opening stand of a mere 17. What can I say? A disastrous scene! You think this is bad? Number thee goes first ball. This is not the start start we wanted, no way not at all. Once again left with the burden of bringing us back. Another batsman to last with me is what we lack. The score still 17, number 2: a catch to a slip. He walked all this way to add so few, a real waste of a trip. My successor successor and I again try to prevent the fold. But with little success; I go. Out bowled. Now only left to watch from the stands, I know should have given a bigger hand. Slowly but steadily all our men fall, The visitors victory; so great and tall. It’s their biggest against us. A record they bre break. And me with this burden, oh what a headache! With this loss the series is now gone. We have to win the next one. Our pride must go on. 18
BYE BYE SHEP
A great umpire retires today The game ending an hour into the 5th days play 92 tests, you had a good heave. The cricketing world is sad you must leave. Putting up that finger you gave the greatest men out. Your decision was fair in that there is no doubt. The score on the Nelson, 111 you would hop. On the Elite list of umpires; you are high up on top. Six different world cups; the finals for three. Your umpiring made it an accurate victory. Good ol’ chap we will miss you, in that there’s no lie To umpire David Shepherd farewell and goodbye…
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