Thursday, June 22, 2006

World Cup Poem II: Roger McGough

Roger McGoughRoger McGough, the so-styled British "people's poet" and one of the 1960s Liverpool Poets trio, has written a World Cup soccer poem for the English side that's brief, entertaining, inclusive, and catchy. It's catchy enough that I started memorizing it without initially realizing it. One gloss: "Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz" are the children of England's star, David Beckham and the former Posh Spice, Victoria Adams Beckham. Here it is, courtesy of the Telegraph's online site:

Reasons For Winning

Win it for the fans whose happiness will depend on it
Win it for Sven whose career may well end on it
Win it for the nurses and local authorities
Win it for the poor and ethnic minorities
Win it for the girl awaiting the operation
Win it for the firefighters racing back to the station
Win it for the late train and the overcrowded bus
Win it for granny who can't understand the fuss
Win it for prisoners banged up in their cells
Win it for couples in seedy motels
Win it for young mums pushing their buggies
Win it for saddoes, asbos and druggies
Win it for the dads who can't bear to lose
Win it for Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz
Win it for young Rooneys-in-the-playground, learning new tricks
Win it for old heroes at Wembley, the class of sixty-six
Win it for the ex-pats, all the fans overseas
Win it for the viewers at home. Please.
Win it for the ordinary man in the street.
But above all, win it for yourselves
You've got the world at your feet.
Reasons for Winning (No Pressure)

Copyright © Roger McGough, 2006.

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