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Sunday League 2

mark merriman

Saturday, July 16th, 2005

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 The early exchanges,
Ball pinging around,
Possession conceded needlessly,
Ball sliced out of play.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 First event of note,
Pizza-faced ref calls for shovel;
Play halted as clumps of dog s–t
Are heaved off the pitch.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Play resumes:
Sweeping move finds
The opposition’s predatory striker
Who shoots low and thumps the post.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 A lucky escape! Still 0-0.
Ball hoofed aimlessly upfield
For bout of head tennis.
Then belted into nearby garden.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Half-time approaches.
Still deadlock.
No real improvement as Pizza
Blows his whistle soundlessly.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Half-time teamtalk.
Water gulped down
To rehydrate.
Ready now, prepared.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Second 45 starts
With ball blast in the b——–s.
Doubled up in agony
Whilst others look on, doubled up in mirth.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 This painful blow as nothing
To opponent’s opening goal;
High cross, keeper fumbles
ball trundles tiredly into unguarded net.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Straining every sinew
To get the equaliser.
geeing up team-mates
On their last legs.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 Tension mounts, tackles fly in.
Everyone deadly serious now, focused.
Pizza looks once, twice
At Mickey Mouse wrist watch.

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 Out of nowhere a fight.
Late tackle results in blur of pushing, shoving.
Not really serious, though,
Just handbags at 10 paces.

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 Final minute – a corner:
21 players packed into opposition penalty area.
Cross drilled over, flicked on at near post,
Ball headed across goal and in!

13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 Moment of sheer, unbridled joy!
Players leaping around
Like demented Morris dancers.
Pleat-like, coach dances a jig on the pitch.

© mark merriman 18 sept 2004

Notes

Lots of Sunday League games rolled into one; some of them have really happened!!

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/sunday-league-2/