PHILOSOPHY OF BOWLS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 133, 2 December 1922, Page 16

PHILOSOPHY OF BOWLS

VERSUS TO PLAYERS.

The following *er»e« on the "Philosophy of Bowls," written by C.D.H., will interest all players of the ancient game; —

A microcosm is the green, Where foibles many may be seen, Of bowlers stout and bowlers lean, „ . In friendly strife.

I sat and watched one summer d*y, The blazer-coloured field of pl»y, Then sat me down and penned this lty For all to teed, SATIRICALLY OBVIOUS. Whene'er a fast shot misses fire. Whene'er your muscles 'gin to tire, Whene'er tiie foeman's soore mount* higher,

O Warn* the green. Whene'er a slow bowl wandere wi<Je, Whene'er you fail to get inside, Whene'er your errors folks derate, O blame the green.

When fiery Phoebus gloms too strong, When rude Boreas blusters lons, Wh«n picked to play the "duds" among. Why blame the green ?

How strange it is, and yet how true, That never f»ulte are due to,you, But each day sees excuses new.

Upon the green. All know the men who live onoe men, Amidst some hoary past's proud soon, Until the listeners soon may bore, Upon the green. Mefchinke that bowling 1 Egos thrive Like bees, on food, within the hive,Where least the "Self" should be aiiv* Upon the'green. The losing skip how oft he'll swear, His "number three" is out of gear, Hie "lead" or "two" should be elsewhere, Than on the green.

The inner vision grows distorted, As trunk* and limbo become contorted, While wfltehinu fell intent oft thwarted, Upon the green.

OBVIOUSLY MORAL. Now though all bowls mast Javro their bias, Let not the petty issue try us. Of f*ilures ever waiting nigh ue, Upon the green. A bowler should be staunch and true, Loyal to friends, his words but few, Prepared to give due praise to YOU When on the green.

Self-poised and modest, bold yet quiet, He never fails to know you try it, "If not on 'Kitty' still vou'to nigh it." Upon the green. '

Strategic moves he eeema to plan, Your ooolinjr ardour tries to fan. In doubt, prepared to "play the'man," Upon the green. With ready courtesy he goes, To greet his friends and c'en hie foes,- ■ The seed of fellowship he sows. Upon the green. If 'tisj_your luck to lose the game, He etill preserves his poise the atme, For Fortune's but a. fickle dame, Upon the green. Now bowlers short and bowlers tall, Placing your trust in biassed b»H, On all and sundry thus I call, Upon the green. New the MOTE in eyes to view, While BEAMS obscure your vision true. To "play the same" is up to you, When on the green.

But lost my Muse should soar too btirh, I'll come to earth again, and try Onoe more against the "Jack" to He

Upon the green. And though. I've moralised too long, Should e'er we meet amidst ihe throng, We'll olasp the hand of friendship strong.

When off^the green.