CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AT SCHOOL

On the sport’s field we started to set up To play cricket but the ground was hard And the stumps would not go in. So my mate Used the cricket bat to hammer them home. The game’s master was soon upon the scene, Shouting. “That’s no way to treat the willow, You cretin.” Sir then snatched the cricket bat And with hefty sideways swipe cracked my mate Across the head. The lad collapsed and was Shaking violently, lying on the ground. Then his shaking stopped and he was still. The whole team went silent and stood and stared. Then one lad shouted: “He’s dead. You’ve killed him. You’ll be hanged for murder”. Sir was silent. He looked worried. But the victim came round. He then stood up, a bit wobbly and we Carried on with our game of cricket.