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Poems tagged ‘Russia’

Lev Yashin

Sharon Jones

Thursday, June 7th, 2018

The man in black
“The Octopus”
with the feline vertebrae
whose elastic muscles flexed
with lithe perfection
to slide through skin
into legend
smooth
like the decadent slide
of a jazz trombone.

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Russian Campaign

Denys E. W. Jones

Monday, June 4th, 2018

Napoleon tried in eighteen-twelve,
But didn’t have much luck.
Then Hitler swooped in forty-one,
Yet he too came unstuck.

Now England’s bound for Russia,
Though this time there’s no war.
We’re not hell-bent on conquest,
Just want to play football.

Our hopes, as ever, are sky-high,
That Cup’s there for the taking.
While less stout hearts – France, Spain, Brazil,
With fear are all a-quaking.

The Russian President’s not keen
On us, but listen, Putin –
In Heav’n above our Patron Saint,
Brave George for us is rootin’.

Red cross against white background,
With pride his flag we wave,
And lustily in song we ask
Our God the Queen to save.

We’re set to leave the EU,
Because “Brexit means Brexit”.
But from this tournament let’s pray
We don’t make a swift exit.

3/6/18
Denys E. W. Jones

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World Cup Russia 32 Team haiku

Crispin Thomas

Thursday, May 31st, 2018

on Argentina haiku
big contenders these
Messi leads the white and blue
will it be this time ?

on Australia
Cahill’s waltzing squad
return from the land of Oz
while Matildas dream

on Belgium haiku
bursting with young skill
Eden’s pace and Lukaku
spear these Red Devils

on Brazil haiku
Neymar to Jesus
rhythmic touch to samba beat
will their swagger rule?

on Colombia haiku
dark horses always
Rodriguez the star upfront
could they go the course?

on Costa Rica haiku
with Ruiz’s pace
Los Ticos can cause a stir
when that magic flows

on Croatia haiku
always one to fear
Modric now the playmaker
for Mandzukic’s pace

on Denmark haiku
nice pastries aside
Eriksen the vital spark
to Danes dynamite

on Egypt haiku
will Salah be fit
Pharoahs focus on defence
as a country waits

on England haiku
emphasis on youth
still the Sterlings and Rashfords
need to find their best

on France haiku
over-crammed with stars
will they drop like croissant crumbs
falling to their knees?

on Germany haiku
Ozil at the heart
always first to raise the bar
and to lay their towels

on Iceland haiku
smallest nation here
Sigurdsson the main class act
teamwork heart and beards

on Iran haiku
Queiroz at the helm
Team Melli arrive in hope
Azmoun leads the line

on Japan haiku
here on Russian soil
Kagawa and Honda’s skill
power these guys on

on Korea Republic haiku
southern winds still blow
with their new belief and pace
Cha Bum-kun the star

on Mexico haiku
Los Aztecan strength
Hernandez the constant threat
will they shine or fall?

on Morocco haiku
nothing here to lose
Atlas Lions know no fear
passion at their core

on Nigeria haiku
to their Afro beat
Moses powers Eagles on
Mikel still the spine

on Panama haiku
debut boys this time
Roman Torres fires a squad
happy to be here

on Peru haiku
like their altitude
Los Incan hopes soar and rest
on Farfan upfront

on Poland haiku
Polish Eagles dream
Lewandowski heads the pack
always posing threats

on Portugal haiku
lighting ev’ry match
like some whirlwind fanning flame
’til Ronaldo strikes

on Russia haiku
struck by injuries
Smolov now the only threat
even on home turf

on Saudi Arabia haiku
swarming round like Bees
sailing in uncharted seas
but can they win games?

on Senegal haiku
talent out in force
Koulibsaly and Mane
shine among the pearls

on Serbia haiku
Eagles hopes will pin
on Matic and Mitrovic
in this tricky side

on Spain haiku
there or thereabouts
Iniesta and Costa
make this time-bomb tick

on Sweden haiku
no Ibra this time
short on names but spirited
always in the mix

on Switzerland haiku
just like chocolate
with Shaqiri’s box of tricks
always tempting fate

on Tunisia haiku
capable of shocks
always drumming up a storm
England should beware

on Uruguay haiku
ever dangerous
Suarez and Cavani shine
never rule them out

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Lev Yashin

kevin john patrick raymond

Tuesday, March 29th, 2005

That blimmin Barry Davies
I didn’t need to know
That Lev Yashin had died with one arm
As an alcoholic in Moscow

As a kid he was my idol
That awesome man in black
He was one of the reasons
I put a goalie’s jumper on my back

It was during one of the World Cup ties
That I really got pissed off
You know the one with that stunning goal
Scored by Igor Belanov

Why did Davies tell us?
Did we really need to know?
That one of the greatest keepers of all time
Died destitute and low?

I wish he’d kept it to himself
That wasn’t the right time
To tell of Lev’s sad demise
And how he had declined

They talk of all these keepers
They come and then they go
But we will never ever forgot
The man in black for Dynamo

peace.

kevin

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/news/poem-tags/russia/page/5/