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o Rei (The King).

kevin raymond

Monday, January 6th, 2014

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 We knew all their names.
From the colour newspaper supplements of the time
Though we’d to hear Wostenholme actually say them on the telly
Before we knew how those names should be pronounced.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 We knew the impact Pak Doo-Iks goal for North Korea
Would have on a wonderfully talented
Though under-performing Italian team back home,
With: Fachetti, Mazzola, Riva, and Rivera gracing it.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 We watched the news-reels in our local News-theatre
Show a totally distraught Pele
Wrapped in a blanket, his tournament sadly over
Being led away injured, a victim of the time’s hackers.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Then Portugal played North Korea
The tournament under-dog was still in there with a shout
And our faith in football as a sport of real beauty was restored
As North Korea race in to a seemingly un-assailable lead.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 At 24 minutes it was all over (sic)
Or so we thought, with North Korea three goals in front
Then on sixty minutes Portugal led 4-3
Courtesy of a Eusebio hat-trick, before going on to win 5-3.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 A new Rei had emerged, replacing the injured Pele in our esteem
As we wondered to ourselves: exactly where was Mozambique?
Today o Rei is dead
Long Live o Rei.

© Kev 2014

Notes

Eusebio. A real sportsman in every sense of the word first and then just an amazing footballer.

Goodnight and May Your God Go With You

Peace.

Kev.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/o-rei-the-king/