Home Ground Advantage

• Abbey Cooke, Grade 10, St Hilda's Anglican Girls School
• Poetry
• 2019

Excellence Award in the 'Inspired 2019' competition

Eight boys. Two teams. One winner.
The mellow summer glow warming the rough bitumen
underneath blistered and hardened bare feet.
the leader board tied,
the game to be played,
the winner to be decided.
Suddenly, a bark from a dog, a yell from the audience.
“Car!”
With a blink of an eye the bin stumps are cleared,
the bat and ball are claimed,
and the infants grabbed.
An unwelcomed interruption to the effervescent match.
Eight boys. Two teams. One winner.
The pitch is reinstated hastily as the eager crowd
bakes beneath the SPF 30+ summer sun.
the leader board to be tallied,
the game to be finished,
the winner is decided.