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RUN AFRICA RUN

Ralph Hancock

Monday, August 6th, 2007

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 A signal with a clap of the hands
and Africa flies.
He shoots and scores.
The crowd applaud as it rises as one
“There’s only one Africa”.
He celebrates until he melts into the crowd
arm in arm with Hope.
The spectators keep the ball
and won’t throw it back,
singing “We all agree
freedom is better than torture”.
Crossing the line in breach of visa,
those who break the net
“Run Liberty run”.
The assistant on the line flags furiously –
“Leap the stadium wall Liberty” –
the referee whistles like a shepherd who’s lost control,
the crowd chant “Witness, Witness,
give us a wave” and the lion smiles.
“Good luck, take your chance mate,”
and life is put on hold in a cold climate.
“Run Africa run,”
no longer hearing the cheers of the crowd.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/run-africa-run/