Today’spoem

WORLD CUP FOOTBALL

The football viewer’s stern commands Take over television, The beauty of the game demands This partisan decision, From fury of the soccer stands No blessed intermission. And every analyst dissects Each tactical dimension, Strategic purpose resurrects Subversive move’s intention, Decision given disrespects Each red card foul suspension. Demeanour stern they all adopt On incident specific, What tactic shone, what tactic flopped In manner scientific, A brilliant diversion stopped A penalty terrific. They talk with dialogue intense On each and every topic, The breaking of a tight defence, A referee myopic, The players’ egos so immense And wages astronomic. Exasperation clouds their eyes There’s dialogue abusive, Heave out their condemnatory sighs In caustic tones effusive, Lamenting lack of trophy prize Success is so elusive. World-weary pundits blather on With verbiage unending, And talk of hope’s oblivion And gloomy matches pending, Supporters who are put upon Despite a fortune spending. We do not really need explained Each action and decision, Possession lost, possession gained On each marauding mission, Advantage had by hurt that’s feigned Regarded with suspicion. We do not need official bores With endless explanation, The after-match autopsy shows Repeated conversation, The real football fan deplores Such tedious information. Stuart Walters, Swansea.