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Poetry
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Celtic
By Talisker
18 October 2006
Watching on telly as my beloved team put Portugal's finest to the sword by 3-0 last night, I was reminded of the first European matches I went to in the mid 1970s.  Things have moved on a bit, I can't afford a season ticket these days!  But once Celtic, always Celtic.

Half an hour before the game kicks off,

Like a giant nouveau table lamp,

Seventy thousand frantic emerald moths,

Drawn from the dreary Glasgow damp,

Celtic Park shines out with more than light,

Love, history, culture, more besides,

Float up into the sacred, East End night.

I skip to keep apace with father’s strides.


The streams then bottle-neck at London Road,

To form a raging river of belief,

Soon fast forward slows to shuffle mode,

And then I see the stadium in relief,

Against a sodium-yellowed Parkhead sky,

Redolent of chips and burger stands,

I jostle with the roadside throng to buy,

A program, proffer coins with frost blue hands.


Then into the queue, a crippled worm,

One of many, to the old turnstiles,

Clumsy horses, police in uniform,

Fast turning tidy ranks to random piles.

Tempers fray and beery insults fly,

Like wayward cattle prodded to a gate,

I want to ask the angry policeman, why?

But now we’re in, such trifles have to wait.


The teams are on the field the crowd explode,

Like seething mass the jungle moves as one,

I feel at home, this is my real abode,

A goal! And now we’re set to have some fun!

Feet lift off the ground six hundred thrust,

Towards the front to celebrate the score,

As if by laws of physics, flow adjusts,

The space is filled by seven hundred more.


And so on ‘til the whistle blows the end,

Another famous European night,

Only those of blood can comprehend,

The joy, the pride, the moments of delight.

And then to smoky barroom we retire,

To reminisce of games before my time,

McGrorys, Tullys, Thomsons by the fire,

An evening of comradeship divine.


Oli (18/10/06)

Reviews
Once a fan .........
Written by Bagheera (680 comments posted) 18th October 2006
......... even I have to admit that Bill Shankly was the best manager anyone ever had - shame he devoted his life to the "rabble" on the WRONG side of Stanley Park, but that's another story ..... :grin  
 
He's best remembered here on BOTH sides of a divided city for one true thing he said:- 
 
"Football isn't about Life - it's FAR MORE IMPORTANT than that!" 
 
Your tribute to Celtic is honest, passionate, and with a few minor alterations could almost be tailored to pay tribute to any of the truly GREAT teams of recent years (and I mean that as a compliment, NOT to detract from your verses or Celtic's achievements!!)

Written by Phil (6645 comments posted) 18th October 2006
Really enjoyed this Oli, particularly the first verse which set the scene so evocatively. My dad never took me to the footie, so I went with mates from about the age of thirteen. (Doncaster Rovers - Different scale, but same passion.) 
 
Some good results north of the border of late. 
 
All the best,  
 
Phil. 
 

Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 19th October 2006
Lovely poem with beautiful imagery -- I like a good poem for the way certain phrases stick with you, and one that I particularly enjoyed in this poem is 'seventy thousand frantic emerald moths / drawn from the dreary Glasgow damp.' I could no more come up with that sort of thing in one sitting than I could fly to the moon.  
 
Since I am significantly 'of the blood' (there is enough of just about everything in my blood, in truth) you would think I ought to be able to understand football and the fanatic passion it causes in people, but sadly I don't. I never have! I could watch football, hear it passionately described, read about it, hear the watching crowds roar -- until the clap of doom fell, and I would never, ever understand. Nothing to do with football and everything to do with my own wired-in sports obtuseness.
Its a gran' ol' team t' play fo'
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 19th October 2006
Super piece! 
 
And my hat off to yous. I am a Manchester United Season Ticket holder. I shall be in the lovely city-- Glasgow-- with friends for our return at Parkhead. Myself, 'Blaster' Keene' , Tom Conway, and Moxy Mc Stieophann.' King James' Catholic Army'. We invented that when we won at Ibrox a while ago. When we won, we thought it best to respect mutual antogonisms and left crowing to the bus home. 
 
No such sensitivity t' th' ol' B'HOYS!! 
 
I'm telling you Mister, YOU ARE STUFFED!!!! I would gladly go without my tackle if the Bhoys even manage to get a ball in the box given United's defensive superiority. I shall say no more. 
 
Hibs eat my pants!!! You have got no chance!!! 
 
 
PS. Well done to those qualifying in second place!!  
 
Slan!
Well, well Mr. Connolly...
Written by Talisker (1321 comments posted) 19th October 2006
No need for all dat is der? We'll happily settle for second place in the group. No point peaking too soon. 
 
If you get the luck of the draw you may even meet us in the final!  
 
P.S. You were lucky to scrape a 3-2 at Old Trafford & Celtic have never been beaten at home in 12 CL ties. I guess we'll see. 
 
Thanks Baggie, Phil & Witzl! 
 
Hail! Hail!
Written by coosh (844 comments posted) 21st November 2006
Theatre of Dreams? My arse!  
 
Cinema Paradiso! Santa Nakamura! Arise Sir Artur! 
... the Glasgow Celtic will be there!! 
 
Slan!

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