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The Beautiful Game

Alan McKean

Saturday, July 3rd, 2004

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Eleven in red
Eleven in blue
Three in black,
On a field of green.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Twenty five men line up prior to combat,
Surrounded by the faithful
Each tribe certain
Their team will win the day.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The whistle blows, the game begins.
The play flows this way, then that.
Each side tentatively testing the other,
Probing for weakness.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Years of training,
Years of tactical analysis.
The players fall into the patterns
Of each move and countermove.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Fans cheer their team on.
Songs, praise and abuse in equal part,
Twenty five thousands experts
Telling twenty-five the rules.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Ebb and flow,
To and fro
The game moves the full pitch length.
Attack and counter attack foiling each other.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Half time, no score.
The fans seek nourishment
As they dissect the action
With expert knowledge.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 The players return for part two,
The fans give voice again to their heroes,
The game weaving its intricate patterns
As both sides strive to beat the deadlock.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Goal!
The home side scores.
The fans leap cheer, shout and sing,
And hurl abuse at the away fans.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 Goal!
The visitors score.
Abuse received is now given back.
Square one, start again.
Time added
Goal
The home side scores
The final whistle, and home honour is salved.

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 Home fans will seek a pint in victory,
Away fans will seek a pint in dismay.
Both managers see positives
In their television interviews.

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 “It’s too early in the season to make judgements”
“We expected something from the game”
“The youngsters showed good potential”
each manager using the stock phrases.

13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 Pitchside clears, boxes empty,
Stadium staff wind down.
A good day,
A good result (for some)

14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 Up and down the country
The same scenes repeats themselves.
Enthusiasm, commitment, enjoyment,
Grace the faces of players and fans alike.

15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 The pattern will repeat itself next week.
Each Saturday’s motorways
Having a moving population of fans,
All following The Beautiful Game.

© Alan McKean November 2003

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-beautiful-game-3/