Award-winning poet S.J. Litherland puts a cricketing twist on a Christmas classic, as first appeared in issue 8 of The Nightwatchman.
This article appears in issue 8 of The Nightwatchman. Available in print and digital editions.
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On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, a willow from a rare tree. On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me two slender bails, and a willow from a rare tree.
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me three stout sticks, two slender bails and a willow from a rare tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, four cover drives, three stout sticks, two slender bails and a willow from a rare tree. On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, five stolen runs.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me six slips a-leaping. On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me seven sixes soaring. On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me eight fielders fluffing.
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On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me nine bouncers bumping. On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ten wickets falling. On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me eleven men a-weeping.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, twelve scribes a-scribbling, eleven men a-weeping, ten wickets falling, nine bouncers bumping, eight fielders fluffing, seven sixes soaring, six slips a-leaping, five stolen runs, four cover drives, three stout sticks, two slender bails and a willow from a rare tree.
