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Another season

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.”

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/