They’re in your stomach, your gut
The floodlights
the arenas, from Dublin 4 to 24, from 3 to 7 to 8 and beyond
Electricity everywhere
the play-off; the derby; the cup final
Now postponed, now irrelevant. For now.
Just for now
——————————————-
They’re the sounds, the smell
the nonsense, the drink, the laughs, the fog of nostalgia
Outside Inside Pre-match Post-match
Now empty, now idle. For now.
Just for now.
——————————————-
They’re in your park, the boys, the girls
the bibs and cones and the astro’s goals
the unfortunate ref that can never be told
Now silent, now calmed. For now.
Just for now
——————————————-
When we return, what will we see
Values – competition, fair play, graciousness and grace
Re-turn; Re-Orient; Re-Imagine; Re-Discover
——————————————-
Our game in our community, our heroes in our dreams
and our dreams in our heroes
——————————————-
Money. The spectacle, the 24/7 circus
we’ll want no more of that, surely
The blinded tribes, the gambling, the vulgar consumption
we’ll want no more of that, surely
——————————————-
Our game in our community, our heroes in our dreams
and our dreams in our heroes
——————————————-
With the whistles of the wind but no whistles of the games
It’s the rituals that matter. It’s the rituals that stay
The stage stays set, the pitches lined, the people wait and pray
Because it’s the rituals that matter. It’s the rituals that stay…
Yard of Grass – 28/03/20
Europe is shut down due to Corona Virus. The health of our families, friends and colleagues is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Sport has been postponed indefinitely globally. This does not mean we cannot think about it and does not mean we cannot use this time to reflect on what it really means and what aspects of it matter the most. It is not a matter of life or death, but it is part of the glue that holds our societies together across the globe between neighbourhoods, cities, countries and continents, and I’m sure billions of us are missing it right now. Take care.
Picture of Phoenix Park (c) N. Chadwick https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6016488
A Yard of Grass 