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Referring Words

John Cox

Monday, April 30th, 2007

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Whenever they give and take their decisions
with what could be deciding penalties,
maybe referees who’ve never been politicians,
who’ve never worked in the building trade,
who’ve never been historians, or even etymologists,
maybe such referees just don’t always understand
the meaning of “nailed-on” and “stonewall”.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Surley not a defence of the whistler,
pointing the game away from chaos?

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Perhaps consider the embarking referee
confronted with “that penalty was nailed on”
or “that was a nailed-on penalty”
or “that was a stonewall penalty”.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 “What do you mean? Nailed on to what?
What are you talking about now?
I thought you were a footballer.
And what do you mean by stonewall?
Yes you, the manager, and you – the commentator.
I don’t understand when you claim penalties
with words I can’t refer to the rules.”

© John Cox 30 April 2007

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/referring-words/