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Theatre Of Drams

Alun Robert

Thursday, November 5th, 2015

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 When I scrape Jack Frost from my bedroom window
the profile of Starks’ lights slithers into distant view.
Though it may not be Hampden or even Ibrox but
this is home to Raith Rovers – my hometown team.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Am anxious and excited on this October Saturday
with a big game in prospect as Hibees are in town
for a table topping confrontation (third v second)
so a large crowd in prospect including from afar.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 This place of a hard fort can be inhospitable with
bitter southerlies whipping across the Forth but
donned my duffle coat (brand new from the Co-op)
and tucked in a blue scarf that Mother has knitted.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Strode off from Bute Wynd at one thirty precisely,
went south along Links Street fighting horizontal rain
then up to the main road, off north on Pratt Street
into the Theatre of Drams for a Bovril or two tepid.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Can hear an Express growl en route to the Hi’lands
via Dundee and Arbroath and other alien places.
Can ingest the lino stench – gosh that’s repugnant
though synonymous with life up here in Kirkcaldy.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 And now Starks is filling up all ready for the offing
without an Adam Smith and his wealth of our nation
but is that Gordon Brown in the prawn sanny seats?
Or a spirit of Jocky Wilson flailing over double kop?

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 But its now ten to three and the noise is deafening,
hence out parade the teams scowling and gnashing
for an afternoon’s bloodlet – think the Battle of Raith
back in 596 when King Áedán mac Gabráin lost.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 Then as I scrub rain off from my vari-focal lenses,
the sparking Starks’ lights shine into proximate view.
Though it may not be Hampden or even Ibrox but
this is home to Raith Rovers – my hometown team.

© 5 Nov 2015

Notes

Written for a friend’s first visit to Raith Rovers in October 2015

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/theatre-of-drams/