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The greatest skill of all

Peter Goulding

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 There are many skills in this game of thrills
that spectators love to see –
little back-heel flicks and overhead kicks
and a smart well-taken free.
But when you’re two-nil up in the League or Cup,
the skill that’s most sublime
is to keep the ball near the corner flag
for ten minutes at a time.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 There’s some who yearn for the old Cruyff turn,
the Asprilla somersault.
And the stands will ring for the guy on the wing
who outsprints Usain Bolt.
Best and Pele stood out from the melee
but neither in their prime
ever kept the ball near the corner flag
for ten minutes at a time.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Last Friday night was sheer delight
when we did it versus Bohs.
A thing of bliss like a passionate kiss-
a thing of beauty, I suppose.
It was Fawlty Towers, van Gogh’s Sunflowers,
an exquisite pantomime,
when we kept the ball near their corner flag
for ten minutes at a time.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 (Though in reverse, I am sure we’ll curse
at the cynical football crime,
if the others keep the ball near the corner flag
for ten minutes at a time.)

© Peter Goulding 26th September 2012

Notes

From earlier in the season…

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-greatest-skill-of-all/