You’re Supposed to Be at Home
¶ 1
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Back when I lived in Blighty,
And went to football Grounds,
I’d sometimes hear a mocking chant
Around the place resound:
¶ 2
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“You’re supposed to be at home.”
Away fans they would sing,
When their team was two, three, four up,
And heading for a win.
¶ 3
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Myself I found no fault with that,
A mild, good-humoured taunt.
The home fans did not take offence,
Hurt caused was next to nought.
¶ 4
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But now I often hear these words
Said with a darker tone,
Directed at all kinds of folk,
Who’ve come from lands unknown.
¶ 5
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Perhaps their skin’s of darker hue,
Or eyes of different shape.
Maybe the women wear a veil,
To cover up their face.
¶ 6
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“Where are you from? Where really from?
You came here on a boat?
Get back, get back where you belong,
You’re s’posed to be at home.”
¶ 7
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Once Integration was the word,
But that’s now been replaced.
Of Deportation some now talk,
And purity of race.
¶ 8
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In Washington and London,
In Paris, Berlin, Rome,
Again that football chant is heard:
“You’re s’posed to be at home!”
¶ 9
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11/11/24
Denys E. W. Jones
‘You’re Supposed To Be At Home’ is an excellent and moving poem Denys.
You start off thinking it’s just about another oft-sung chant, one we personally heard a lot last season throughout our second relegation in a row here at Forest Green(FGR) ! I always love poems where you think they are saying one thing and then they suddenly pull you deeper to somewhere or something else else.
I’m currently helping in a local school for FGR in a voluntary capacity using football to help young students with reading. At an upcoming session we will tackle racism, just like we did in workshops at football schools and grounds when we first started this site 24 years ago. I’m gonna try and weave your poem into a session.
We’ve added it to the Anti- Racism/Kick It Out section under Crispin’s Corner.
Best C