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First Game Highs ~ Summer of 58

Crispin Thomas

Sunday, March 25th, 2001

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 I remember that summer of 58
August in London and sweltering

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 stand clear of the doors…
all change for Fulham Broadway…
official programme – sixpence a go!
wear your colours!
roasted peanuts – tanner a bag

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 first game highs
bearing down on Stamford Bridge
in the distance floodlight pylons
tower and loom on blue blue sky
and sun sparkles on concrete old and open

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 ninepence for kids-one and six for adults..
but wait…what’s this – sold out and heaving!!

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 you said – let’s try bunking in!
and we did..
and soon …nervous and torn
still clutching melting lollies
and passed down the front..
we sat on to the dog-track
68,000 behind us. baying swaying-
no security just bon-homie
do you remember the score?

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 six-two ….a blue and gold blur
of goals and cheers
you had two ribbons stapled to a wooden rattle
and my mum had sat up half the night
embroidering strange names
on that rough striped scarf
but i wore it in the heat anyway…

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 and later in the street –
in between the ice cream van and the pavement
we lived it though again
and again and again..

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 and never knew
that to this day
we always would

© Crispin 2001

Notes

for Ron The Manager…
(sweaters for goalposts.. enduring images – what?)

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/billy-wright-where-are-you/