Football Poets

Day 16 : British Bulldog

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Paraguay 0 Germany 1

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Paraguay
could not fly
‘uber alles’
so now it’s home they journey
via the hub of Dallas

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 England 3 Denmark 0

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 I @ play 11 am BST

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 in the agonising hours
of the pre-match build up
after the dull German victory
and before the panel of experts have their say
I wandered down to the local beach
and wondered how the boys might play
– by throwing rocks and stones, as it happens –
not hooligans
but my own little three
as they play by the sea
and as I looked out across the bay
far, far from the English shores
a long way from the Cliffs of Dover
and all the dogs, imaginatively named Rover
the ex-pat in me, reminisced
about the green and pleasant land
the sceptred isle
and the fond memories, brought a smile
that played about my lips
forcing them, wider and wider, apart
and I felt something stirring in my heart
– must get the doc to check for angina –
or stop those visits to ‘Angelina’
exercise a bit more, to get leaner
– hope our boys prove to be meaner
than the pair of pit bulls
that patrol Denmark’s midfield
snapping, biting, unmuzzled
leaving opponents puzzled
as Gravesen and Tofting
whether digging or lofting
or whipping balls out wide
to the whippets in the side
to Rommedahl and Gronkjaer, who run at pace
surging into oceans of space
their waves of attack
feeding Ebbe Sand
– which brings me back to the beach
where my happy boys screech
with delight
I really hope, that in a few hours, I just might
be doing the same

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 II dogs @ war 19:00 BST

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 No Alsacians among us
Being French doesn’t become us
No German Shepherds either, just foxes
Who bossed both boxes
And little Jack Russells
Who overpowered the Danish muscles
And who hounded, surrounded
Hunted in packs
Backed up attacks
And punished, the defending lax

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 III England 3 Denmark 0

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Well, did I enjoy the game?
Hell, yes, and now that we know the score
I’d like to just roar …. WINNERS!
Only sinners
Can upset me now
Holy cow!
Isn’t it such a great feeling
To be dealing
With quarter final nerves
And all the plaudits, that performance deserves!
And just to complete the thrill …
Bring on Brazil !

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