9 OCTOBER 2004, Page 74

Reunion

At some time, I suppose, we all accept some regimental, college, school or team invitation. Wish we'd never been, but stayed, instead, at home and had not seen our older selves in other older eyes — children, marriages, memories distancing what they know of us and we of them, those people we once were, secured behind the fatter shadows of a slimmer mind.

Nor noticed how our slowly speckled hands, no longer flexible as once they were when tossed the ball, Which end do you prefer?

holding that slippery, long, match-winning pass, now tremble when they reach out for a glass.

Ian Blake