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25.05.05 – An Epic

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 When all was lost, they heard the call
Their hearts were lifted, the men stood tall
While all around them raised their voice
These brave souls did make their choice
Like a Phoenix from the shadow’s ash
Eleven rose and heard their shields clash
Wounds still fresh, they began again
The mythic bird with the lion’s mane

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 For early in the battle cut, they stumbled
By the olive and the cross, they were humbled
Stuck again and left at sea they fell
Born to the heavens but left to hell
The eastern night was drawing cold and in
Broken by a third that quelled the din
Their general called them close and sold
A promise of bright silver gold

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 So here they stood on a sea of green
Crimson clouds around them seen
Glimpsing foes with hands upon the prize
Their prayers loud began to rise
And on they marched to a brother’s song
Remembering their pride of old, so long
Ago and their ancient sage and king
The battles won and the treasured thing

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 A shot! a thrust from nothing made
He scores a hit with just minutes played
From obscurity to grace he cries aloud
Lifting all from fighters to their madding crowd
With arms he calls to raise the flag
The hero, strong as ox and swift as stag
And with men rallied he runs on and on
‘Til his cousin sees a battle to be won

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 So lashes he from far away
Speculation on his final day
But low and hard he beats his man
And belief is found by every fan
That a magic’s in the air this night
And though the road’s been full of plight
Those in blue and stripes have felt their strength
All enemies dissmissed at length

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 On the hero runs ’til felled from grace
But strikes his foe in a deadly place
For taken from his feet unfair
All step back from the Spanish stare
Which is aimed at great Guardian’s face
Who guesses right and parries the Iberian mace
But swift is Spanish blood and mind
And his goal he eventually finds

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 The war is drawn but end it must
Though armour meets with every thrust
Each strike is met with shield arm
But the enemy has found his charm
And does loose his hounds to kill
The crowd astound with thrill and skill
But tall and tough our Pole did act
Until the end he stood intact

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 But on it dragged, too long for weaker hearts
Astounding with science and glorious art
Had tried to end this drawn out war
Skirmishing ’til all were broke and sore
The battle raged and songs were sung
Until the deadliest unleashed and stung
But only the hands of the noble Pole
Who stood enchanted, on his sleeve his soul

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 And so we move to to the final end
When luck or fate would her will bend
To draw this legend to its close
A fitting stage for this show of shows
So standing there beneath the lights
The red and tired men stood tallest from this fight
They watched on as strode the hero
Who would lift them all at their hour zero

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 These duels and tussles tired on
Until all was square and the time was gone
When there stood the fabled Pole
With shaking legs and his noble soul
Was approached by the deadliest again
Who drew his breath and intended pain
But he stood knowing his best had been foiled
For all his plans by the Pole were spoiled

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 He ran and struck down his greatest blow
For all who watched the clocks ran slow
Seconds took an eon to pass by
All waiting, whether to cheer or cry
The weapon moved on straight and true
But the Pole, he knew, he knew!
And lifted hand and blocked the blow
One night in May he stole this show

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 The crowd erupted with tears of joy
The warriors danced, the general bouyed
Into the night their laughter was heard
“Champions!” “Champions!” the word
The hero lifted the giant cup
He kissed it and by the angels up
Was lifted, fought for with the gloves and ball
That now sit in our ancestral hall

13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 And so returned to a grand parade
History, for the people made
So ends the tale of that night in May
On which the greatest game was played
In red ribbons the prize was tied
In red shirts and hearts was pride
The heroes of that night now all immortalized
25.05.05, a whisper in the summer skies

Notes

I tried to write this in the style of an ancient Greek orator. The subject is of course the champions league final of 2005 where Liverpool defeated AC Milan in what has to be the greatest game of football ever played.
Eds note – it wasn’t as good as Galway Utd vs Shels in 1985

Source: https://footballpoets.org/poems/25-05-05-an-epic/