Bowling Green

Yesterday as I passed
           the bowling green
the smell of cut grass
           under the sunshine
the groundsman with a stick
           prodding the lawn
here and there
           quietly testing the surface

and the quiet days
           of cards and dominoes
will soon be over so I thought
           and men and women
will once more take
           to the green
and the games
           will begin

and between ends
           there will be endless talk
of those who are missing
           those who never returned
after the long winter break
           and the biased balls will roll
in the knowledge that time alone
           calls the ultimate shots

John Lyons