Kumquat

Kumquat, as he was known

Worked each Saturday morning

In Fruit & Veg, it was said

And school holidays

When not playing cricket

Which was all winter

And much of the summer too

Given so much English weather

Is unsuited to chasing leather

Across a field freshly mown



In China the Kumquat’s known 

As the golden orange fruit

It’s bitter-sweet

Quite a thing to eat

Its thin skin and all

Unlike the cricket ball

Which were it to meet

Someone’s front teeth

Would provoke a ghastly moan

~

n.b. NaPoWriMo 2023, Day 17 prompt, a specific fruit poem.

Kumquat was a keen cricketer and turned out to be a decent player and all round good bloke. Great nickname, in a team of mostly great nicknames.

“Chasing leather” refers to the fielding part of the game of cricket. It means to chase after a cricket ball.

Cricket balls weigh at least five and a half ounces (159.99g) and no more than five and three-quarter ounces, (163g).

They are made of a cork core, which is bound tightly in string, before being incased firmly in leather. The two pieces of leather are joined by a raised seam.

Cricket balls are solid, hard objects which can seriously hurt a player if not fielded correctly.

CLP 17/04/17