Inzamam’s Lament

On a morning fair
As I stood backward of square
Hair served up some unusual fare
Bereft of reason our souls laid bare.

Quoth the Hair, “Change the leather.
‘Tis five runs I declare.”
I strode up, the orb to see.
Dismissed he, “Cannot spare.”

Upon my insistence he produced the sphere.
“Lo”, a smudge he called it a tear,
“’Tis a Tamper!
Now go! Scamper!”

Bewildered I wandered the green
A dolphin trapped in a seine.
Until the break brought some respite
Unbeknownst to us a calm before more spite.

I calmed my young charges
In the sanctuary of our haven
Until Hair breached it
Dithering like a mad raven.

As we appealed to a higher authority,
Hair removed the bails on the field of play
On the pitch they abandoned us
The most unkindest cut, The most blackest day.

To all our entreaties to resume
Hair had one reply and no more
All that was left was the deafening
Unreasoning bray, “Nevermore.”