It's only a game! Original poem by Mark Shepherd. Born out of Sunday touchline attendance, inspired by the players and coaches at Colchester Rugby Club. Hats off to them!

Better quality audio version available : download free mp3
http://www.dashpoetry.com/download/dashpoet/rugby_sundays...


Rugby Sundays.

IMPACT.
Its the
name of the game.
Squirt the ball
and fly a little.
Forwards drive and
break the ranks,
for
fleet foot backs
to gamely striving
canter rampant
manly trying
for the line.
Hustle.
Scrummage.
Chase him down.
Drive on through
the horizontal
elements.
Sleet cools heads,
arrogance expunging
wash cleans
vanities away.
Focus.
Timely,
dashing interception;
thump the opposition
solid tackles,
digging in;
in studded deep
determination.
Jaw set.
Grim grit
concentration,
bone grinding
glamour into soil,
(beware the worm
that pokes its head
above
into the fray)
scything rakes,
where studied
groundsmen tend
implacably to toil.
Buried bodies deep,
the singularity,
the ball.
The source,
the sapping reason
point of pivot
of it all.
Ruck and maul.
Burst into the open,
twist and spinning
blurring time;
snapping wrist
propelling flick
zip lightening
tip to finger tip.
Head down.
Harry.
Hand to hand.
Shoulder drop
and tussle.
Baring grins of
buffered teeth
advance the pack
and struggle;
gaining ground.
Quick look spot
kick, looming chase
and smother.
Backing up and
knocking down,
take a knock and
come right back.
Attack the ball.
Attack!
Attack!
Batter competition.
Stand nothing
in your way,
hit fast and low
and hurtle on
and then hit low
again another.
Show the greatest
vigour. Demonstrate
your flair. Exploit
every weakness.
Striking always;
hard and fair.
Ecstatic
celebrate
the winning,
applaud, console
the fallen foe,
salute the skills
and combat courage,
back slap fraternal
final blow.
Troop steaming
knots of team-mates,
form ranked
heads-up parade;
exhaust from
staunch supporters,
breathed relief,
another day.
All ready for
refreshment yet,
yet honour holds
and has its sway. Its
Cheers to you and
Cheers again,
and one more
if I may...
heres Three Cheers
to Rugby Sundays
Hip! Hip!
Hooray!

Mark Shepherd
dashpoet 2009


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