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Barcelona v Celtic

Anne Armstrong

Sunday, March 28th, 2004

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 A Spanish sea against a Scottish wall
Which team will win? You’d have to say, the waves
And yet the wall’s composure doesn’t crack
The teenage keeper makes stupendous saves.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Like torrents crashing down a waterfall
The Catalan attackers pound away;
Like rocks the Celts’ defence block each attack
A salmon leaps and twists amid the spray –

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The keeper gathers, palms, tips every ball
Defenders check and smother each attempt
(Then give the ball away); we watch the clock
Still the waves come; the Spanish don’t relent.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 We’re watching through our fingers; hopes were small
Without a goal, but neither side can score
The final whistle blows, and we’re in shock
Our throats are aching but our hearts can soar.

Notes

With several of their best players missing (including their first and second goal keepers) Celtic went to Barcelona defending a slim 1-goal lead. Nineteen year old David Marshall played in goal. The score was 0-0 and Celtic progressed to the quarter finals.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/barcelona-v-celtic/