The action occasions silence and
periodic utterance, your analysis topping
that of the experts.
As always there is theory to consider,
one’s own team
and injury,
Saturday’s opponent,
the coach’s strategy…
All of this really is
about this,
though hearts step up to speak it.
For Kevin Cooley
And for Pieter
Of course we know which way we’re going
when we’re in the game, but step outside
to see the ball fly free from the scrum
to cross the invisible line, and hear
the eager calls and know no
answer from deep within to
pleading, pleading eyes
The Gronk has a punctured lung
maybe
the paper says
and you can still see the hit
the one-two
and still feel how
you were glad for it
after what he did to us
two years ago
catching that pass.
What Christ thinks of football I don’t want to know,
but I can see his eye
and hear his breath,
and I’d best be off
before I think some more.
This finally would be the year
of game-winners and accolades.
And so I rose early to prepare,
pounded down the dark road
before the long day of work and school,
hating the road,
hating the fear and weakness within.
Benfica fans, Lisbon, 20 April 2014
Utrecht Journal 