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En Route To The Double

Alun Robert

Monday, February 29th, 2016

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Rain pouring ad nauseum
hadn’t stopped all day
got drenched on the long walk
from the Underground
across to the Lane.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Where thousands were milling
shoving and squeezing
with bobbies on black horses
shouting loud to no avail
their pointless instructions.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 And barkers sold favours
scarves, rattles, woolly hats
in the dark blue and white
adorned with the names
of simply the best.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Being six stone and a bit
(wouldn’t eat Mother’s stews)
managed to squeeze in
to the West Stand paddock
and it was heaving.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Pushed and wheedled
step by step forward
until reaching the front
with uninterrupted views
of the pitch in the rain.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Then when Spurs emerged
the whole Lane erupted
noise was deafening
this was to be our victory
this was our Double season.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 But that was half a century
back in my childhood
often wondered who were there
standing beside me in the rain
and witnessing history.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 There were Fathers with sons
decent folk; true supporters
who wouldn’t miss a match
except when locked out
from a game down the Lane.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Those experiences will linger
generation after generation
recounted ad nauseum
of what the Lane was like
when Spurs won the Double.

© 2016

Notes

Inspired by fond recollections of committed Spurs supporter Steve Seath

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/en-route-to-the-double/