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The Professional

Trent Morris

Monday, October 13th, 2014

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Don’t leave your post from a corner
if all of your lines haven’t cleared.
Run off if you’re substituted,
regardless of score and be cheered.
Take pains to make simplest passes
a thing of some beauty for those
down at the pub raising glasses,
and the ones at home nobody knows.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Pick yourself up from a challenge.
Never shout back at the ref.
Honesty gets better mileage.
Justice can see, but is deaf.
Take time to sign a few programmes
for those who can come once a year.
Practice your “Yes, Sirs,” and “No Ma’ams”,
and show them all how you got here.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Be the first man on the pitch
and the last once your training is done.
Then may you understand which
of success and of failure has won.
Know that each match is a gift
you acknowledge by playing your best,
and every new trophy you lift
only means you have earned one more test.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 As your bright days become shorter,
lighten yourself with a smile.
Let a young man be your porter,
and carry your bags for awhile.
Share with him stories to save him,
so he will own his own mistakes,
and so he’ll pass on what you gave him:
the wisdom experience makes.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 But don’t leave your post from a corner
if all of your lines haven’t cleared.
And run off if you’re substituted,
Look up, if applauded, or jeered,
and give thanks to those came before you
and always remember there’s those
down at the pub who adore you,
and ones at home nobody knows.

© Trent Morris 2014

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-professional/