Open University Degree course in Literature (without honours) module 8 - Essay question 7:
"Using the poem as a source, describe how the words of William Blake's 'Jerusalem' relate to Weekenders CC vs Harry Baldwin XI on Saturday 27 August 2005".

Clearly the poet was ahead of his time by a good couple of centuries when he put pen to paper. The links between the stanzas and the match action work on the subliminal, liminal, and super liminal levels in obvious and consistent ways. Thus, verse by verse:

"And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?"

This refers to the advancing age of the Weekenders Cricket team, who found themselves invited to Goodwood to play cricket. The mountains green can be seen as a metaphor for the massive performance demands required each week - or as a literal reference to the big slope on the pitch beside the huge stateley home.

"And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?"

This is a passing reference to one of two things: Either - the menu entries at the pub where the Weekenders met, where holy lamb was about £16 and humble fish and chips £11.50... Or - a parallel nod to the farmyard animals wander behind the thatched pavillion during the afternoon.

"And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?"

Sadly, this relates to the coin toss - skipper D'Inverno called tails but did indeed see a head, or "countenance" - leaving the Weekenders opening the batting on a soft and spongey track under cloud cover.

"And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?"

A tricky rhetorical question - with a disappointing answer. If we see Jerusalem as a solid opening stand, sadly not. Andy "great value for a four hour round trip and a match fee" Vickery was undone early doors - leading to some darkly satanic thoughts among he and his fellow top order batsmen about the slow dobbing qualities of the pitch.

"Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:"

And here Blake presaged a fightback. Did the 'enders want it? Oh yes. Some hefty tap from Maloney and Johnstone, some all-out red faced commitment between the wickets from Lyons and some top slogging from the skipper took the enders from a weak-looking score to the riches of 158 all out by tea - 60 more than they looked like getting, and 30 more than the senior pros thought was needed to be competitive.

"Bring me my spear:
O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire."

And indeed, at this point the sun came out. The best of the batting would surely be for the Baldwins - but the spear was the spearhead of Douglas and Vettickat - who kept it tight until breaking through, supported by some excellent fielding. The chariot of fire can be interpreted in two ways - either the fizzing legspin of Chiari, which shot through the Baldwins middle order - or perhaps more aptly - the tea which was layed out beautifully and featured scones, strawberries and cream - the true chariot of fire.

"I will not cease from mental fight,"

And nor did the 'enders, as the Baldwins took the run chase on briefly - superb catches by Johnstone (2) and one-handed by Vickery, plus a run-out by Harvey stopped them in their tracks.

"Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand"

And here Blake is ironic - if the sword is seen as a bat, sad to say it got a swift forty winks when the Baldwins called off their run chase with three wickets and 11 overs left. No amount of suggestive sledging or earlier boundary-edge hymn singing could encourage stroke play - and despite some pearlers from the recalled opening bowlers, and a tight spell from "Crown" Jules Lyons - the Baldwins finished on about 81-8 off 39 overs - meaning a DRAW. The gloaming took over, and the 'enders were reduced to trying to set a new world record for fitting people into the Goodwood shower (and achieved it with 1 - the brave senior pro Douglas) - and sipping the odd beer.

"Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land."

And here Blake has it summed up beautifully - in comparing a Weekenders quest for victory that day to finding peace in the Middle East and constructing a biblical city out in East Sussex - a degree of futility is there - but the 'enders will continue nonetheless.

ENDS

(This essay was graded at C- by Mr R Maloney of Chigwell school - when asked why he restricted his comments to "that hymn is just too bloody plebian".)

Stats
WCC 158a.o.
Maloney 25, Vickery 0, Chiari 3, Hogben 8, Johnstone 24, Lyons 39, M.Harvey 1, Douglas 0, Simmonds 9, M.d'Inverno 21, Vettickat 0*
HB 80-8Douglas 10-3-16-0, Vettickat 13-4-32-4, Chiari 10-2-23-2, Simmonds 3-1-5-0, Lyons 3-2-1-1
ct: Johnstone 2, d'Inverno, Vickery