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Allan Clarke

Andrew Harris

Monday, June 27th, 2016

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 The elegance of the menace
sensing the weakness, the softness.
The calm composure of the assassin
without sympathy, a guile unbound
preying upon the panicked,
the ill-composed and underprepared

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Laying deep, deceptive in intent and threat
the languid, short passing interchange,
floating at box’s edge, poised, alert,
circling, hovering, flustering,
probing the defensive underbelly.
The movement lean, economical, efficient

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The narrowing of the eyes, the angular frame
arrowing into the sliver of space
a surgeon’s precision, incising the defence.
Swift, merciless execution presages
the slow, turning salute, the swagger to half way.
Sock tag conspicuously adjusted

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 The unhurried conveyance of ball to net
an intrinsic, instinctive order of things –
the triumph of the intended consequence.
Blurred is the line between requisite self-belief
and arrogance arising from the gift of purest ability;
virtuosity soars on the headwinds of confidence.

© Andrew Harris

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/allan-clarke/?shared=email&msg=fail