One of us (in memory of James Grigg)

James Grigg died in action in Afghanistan on 16th March 2010. He played cricket with me, and was a good friend to me, and to many others in Stradbroke Cricket Club. This poem is for him, and of him.

One of us

He walks among us,
The twelfth man on our team,
With that invisible loping gait,
That dangerous mouth.

Low to the ground,
His hands ready,
A predator, an undefined haze
In the afternoon sun.

He chases from one to the other,
Whispers encouragement,
Barks at the opposition,
A smiled challenge.

Always in white,
Always in whites,
He claps us in,
Dares us to begin again.