Cricket Bat

Englishmen planted willow trees in Kashmir
a hobbyist’s investment of fine grains.
The life of a tree is not ornamental beneath the surface.
Kashmiri willows have no concern
of lines of partition or
prostrating monks at the Bodhi neighbor. 
Masters of translation are these Indian artisans
in flip-flops, hand planing planks
knee deep in shavings 
knocking on a wooden blade 
calling on a dream of a stadium boundary 
and tomorrow’s meal.

Gary Wilks is a recently retired geriatrician who discovered the game of cricket later in life. He was fortunate to find a local club welcoming to beginners, where he learned that cricket is a sport of skill, strategy, and drama. Most meaningful has been the warmth of a community of South Asian immigrants who generously share not only their love of the game, but also homemade chai during breaks between innings.