SEARCHLIGHTS ILLUMINATING CWMDONKIN PARK ( ODE TO MIKE DAVIES )

             SEARCHLIGHTS ILLUMINATE CWMDONKIN PARK ( ODE TO MIKE DAVIES   )        TIM WILLIAMS JAN.2014

MIKE DAVIES BORN IN UPLANDS SWANSEA IN 1936
PLAYED TENNIS DOWN CWMDONKIN PARK
WHERE DYLAN'S GUNS WERE STICKS
MIKE WHO ?  I HEAR THE UNWASHED CRY
MIKE WHO ? YOU MAY WELL ASK
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIS RACKET FLY
AS A FOREARM SMASH WENT PAST

THE STRINGS OF HIS TENNIS RACKET
HE PLUCKED AS IF , A GOOD WELSH HARP
AS HE GREW TO SIX FOOT TALL IN DAPS
LIKE A MUSHROOM IN THE DARK
WON HIS FIRST JUNIOR TOURNEMENT
IN GOOD OLD LANGLAND BAY, HOORAY !
AN APPEAL WENT OUT FOR FUNDING
IN EVENING POST AND WESTERN MAIL

SWANSEA RAISED THE OZ DOLLARS NEEDED
MIKE CAME BACK A RISING STAR
HE BECAME THE ONLY WELSHMAN 
IN A WIMBLEDON FINAL , WELL, THUS FAR
TWAS IN THE YEAR OF 1960
WITH BOBBY WILSON AS HIS PAIR
LOST IT IN THE FINAL GAME
TO RALSTON AND OSUNA , BAH 

IN LATER YEARS AS TIME WENT BY
MIKE INTRODUCED NEW THINGS TO THE GAME
LIKE COLOURED SHIRTS AND SHORTS
AND YELLOW BALLS WERE DOWN TO HIM
HE WAS KNOWN AS A TENNIS REBEL
IT SAID SO, IN THE BOOK BY STANLEY PAUL
BUT NO-ONE KNEW MUCH ABOUT HIM
NOT EVEN IN PORTHCAWL

NOW MIKE HE LIVES IN FLORIDA
LIVING A SUNSHINE LIFE THEY SAY
BUT LAST WEEK HE GOT HIS JUST DESERTS
WITH A PRIZE IN CARDIFF BAY, HOORAY !
NEXT WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER APPEAL
THIS TIME NOT TO SEND POOR MIKE AWAY
BUT TO HAVE A LITTLE STATUE FORGED
AND PUT IT IN CWMDONKIN PARK, WHERE MIKE DAVIES USED TO PLAY