Last Eleven

There we were standing in line

Late to bloom

Slow to shine

We wait for our turn to come around

Shadows lengthen on the ground

Then we are found

Together we are stronger

We can take wing

And scale the heights

Hang out in the long grass if we like

Or build ourselves a home

With towers that reach the sky

So, here we stand

He wants to knock me out the park

I send a full-pelter through

Warming up

Getting in the groove

It's not who they think you are

But what you choose to be

We were the last eleven

Those left behind

The oversights

The extras

The make-up-the-numbers

The footnotes In other stories

Low-deckers

Slow starters

Don't-give-them-a-second-glancers

Shallow enders

This time I had the length just right

Fast paced I sent his wicket flying

Sometimes the quiet ones can roar

Those at the back come to the fore

There's hope enough for us all

And light left in the day

We were the last eleven

Those left behind

The oversights

The extras

The make-up-the-numbers

The footnotes

In other stories

Low-deckers

Slow starters

Don't-give-them-a-second-glancers

Shallow enders

We stepped out from the shadows

Headed for the light

Blinking and stumbling

Hoping it will all be alright

We came up from the darkness

Turned our faces to the sun

Together we were stronger

We were not the only ones

Shallow enders

Last eleven

Are we nearly there yet?

Can the likes of us

Find a place to call our own?