Soccer's Cup Of Joy Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

A pack of players possessed, on a roll,
Nay, a pack of wolves closing in for kills,
Chasing as if a devil's hot on heels,
Yet, vying but for a ball to net goal,
Oft rushing aimless, a vague thing to chase,
Now punching, pouncing then to be in play,
Or playing square passes in a home base,
Oh to keep hopes ever alive if may.

And some feigning a grievous hurt on fall,
Pushing, pulling, shovelling, blaring fangs,
To win a cup of joy no cost's too tall,
Too bad, spirit of game if in shame hangs,
And hate to yield an inch, let the game stall,
Let penalties in plenty be, sweat, tears,
Let hated red card be, yellow recall,
Ah in the cause of those end-of-game cheers.

Where's that old game and sport's dainty deft dame?
Where's that bond binding a billion bugles?
A game of scuffles, of beguiling blame,
Of fattest pay cheques for the game's eagles;
The cup of naught-naught-six, of vim and buoy,
Nay, a cup of squabbles, curses galore,
Of deadly tackles and deceitful lore,
For game's spirit still where's that cup of joy?

Seeking solace are poor nations that lost,
Many a family of mixed marriage,
Haply united once, now in some rage,
Some welcome winners, lost heroes and host,
Some in small feuds, some split on whom to back,
Father-mother oh in a rival camp,
In headache of head and heart, whom to sack,
But cause there's none to show the light of lamp.

More of a beast than beauty that well bands—
Fans on the show, fans glued to TV screen,
And some roaming aimless in public stands,
Viewers, watchers, and players no less keen,
In shorts and bras, show of flesh made nigh noble,
In sum making things no less memorable,
But joy and tears always come with the Cup,
Which, we must learn to bear, soon to buck up.

There too are wages of war I'm afraid:
Coaches cut to size, managers on fire,
Referees on sack, players on the fade,
Yet, game's never marooned in marshy mire;
The few cheers when at last come to an end,
All is when over, regal with the rank,
The fans when leave the World Cup German Land,
FIFA aloud shall laugh its way to bank.
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World Cup Soccer 2006
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Happenings | 03.07.06 |