Braver than all the rest, Rare gem of a human
Intriguing son of the soil.
An athlete better than best
None can overtake BRIAN

It was awesome, it was furious
Four hundred runs so glorious
At two hundred I asked the score
He jumped down the wicket, four more

He was focused, elegant, majestic
Forty-three fours, minute by minute
We watched in joyous admiration
Egging him on until the ovation

The crowd hailed him a super hero
Did he grow taller, bigger, well no
As he danced and pranced on the wicket
We came alive watching Brian play cricket

O game of glorious uncertainties
Brian and Ridley, they made centuries
One lash to the boundary, six runs
They changed sides these West Indians

So what if we lost the series
We saw history made by degrees
By hard work, princely demeanour
By a Trini, an athlete superior

How many times they shorted the pleasure
Mr Lara has been given out said the reporter
He didn't ever touch the ball
The television showed it was a bad call

Genius is born, not made
Umpiring decisions wrong when replayed
Umpteen centuries were perhaps denied
Fearing no one, he always tried
They accused him of indifference, lack of grit
No backbone, a man lacking leadership
They ignored the many times he was given
Out, for all the wrong reasons

Did they witness the marvelous centuries
Played in Australia, South Africa, West Indies
Five hundred and one in county cricket
Under pressure and speed on an English wicket

Genius flourishes when all is right
Had that man raised his finger upright
Would we have seen those beautiful runs ever
Let's celebrate Lara, the batting master.

EUTRICE COWIE-HOPE
Port-of-Spain