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Goal Hungry

mark merriman

Tuesday, October 12th, 2004

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 In the sun-dappled playground,
Coats down in time honoured fashion
A multitude of boys swirl around,
Like leaves across tarmac.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 The object of their quest – a ball,
Size 4 and slightly scuffed,
Bouncing erratically
To bamboozle baffled boys.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Children of mixed ability
Vie for a touch,
Expending effort sweatily,
Their movement haphazard, random.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 The older boys dominate;
Younger ones’ ambition more limited;
Merely to achieve one kick
A source of great pride.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 In the midst of this mayhem
One boy stands alone,
marking his territory by standing
Arms folded, a statue.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Expending no effort
He waits patiently for
The ball to arrive
At his slightly flat feet.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Lean and streamlined,
A predator hovering,
He is the archetypal
Goal poacher.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 Ball judders towards him,
His first touch kills the ball in one.
Then a soft-shoe-shuffle round the tiny keeper
To slip the ball into the goal.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Our hero wheels away
Arms flailing, legs pumping
To receive the adulation
Of a non-existent crowd.

© mark merriman 18 sept 2004

Notes

For Rhys – ace marksman.

Source: https://footballpoets.org/poems/goal-hungry/