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Another season

Peter Goulding

Thursday, February 26th, 2015

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 “It’s time,” she says. I gulp a little weakly.
The butterflies flap madly in their fear.
She offers me my scarf. I take it meekly.
My stomach harbours thoughts of diarrhoea.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 “Tell the kids I love them very dearly,”
I tell her, as I feel my brow grow hot.
She pats my arm, my loving wife of nearly
thirty football seasons on the trot.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 “What’s the worst can happen?” she asks brightly,
knowing well the answer ‘ere it comes.
“We cannot pass; we do not mark them tightly;
our keeper plays as if he’s only thumbs;

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 ‘the ref is poor; the football gods turn on us;
the hard work in pre-season comes undone;
our dreams are sunk; our yearly quest for honours
is gone before the season has begun.”

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 She kisses me, adjusts my red hat slightly.
I promise I will text in breaks of play.
I walk on down the street, my step not spritely,
another season getting underway.”

© Peter Goulding 26th February 2015

Notes

New League of Ireland season starts 10th March. This one, as usual, written for the Shelbourne matchday programme

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/another-season-2/