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The Eventual “Well Done!”

Julie Irwin

Friday, April 4th, 2014

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Young starters here to prepare for the season,
Line up to order their boots.
They’ve left home today, with very good reason,
For ambition, they forfeit their roots.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 In awesome quiet they stand and look
at photos of a hundred great names.
In the empty stadium, memories spook
reflecting on childhood, they think of great names.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 He’s ready to be put through the mill.
Within days there’ll be agony in his eyes.
He’ll eat like a horse and leaving the table,
won’t believe how he’s hindered by his thighs.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Everything’s a toil and, at length;
At many an ill tongue he seethes.
Can’t see how this can improve his strength.
When he concentrates, why can’t he breathe?

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Its tough for a burned out shell.
Things irritate; he wouldn’t normally mind.
All this, and chores as well
Can’t take a joke; shouldn’t have signed.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Confidence comes with self awareness.
In proportion, aches become fewer.
Poor condition never fed ambition,
and prevention’s better than cure.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Mid September; picked for the reserves,
at the news he feels a bit numb.
When he nets number one – its like a dream,
says he’s scored it for his mum.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 She’ll treasure the day with all her heart.
Another two hundred who saw him score.
When your lad makes a wonderful start,
nobody has done it before.

Notes

I wrote this for a youth team member at Oldham Athletic who thought he wasn’t good enough.

Editor Note: Great poem and welcome to Football Poets Julie.
More please!


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Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-eventual-well-done/