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Fifty-Eight Years of Hurt Paul Mortimer is the Wilfred Owen post-euro's poetry

Fifty-Eight Years of Hurt

Paul Mortimer is the Wilfred Owen post-euro's poetry

by Paul Mortimer, Contributor
first published: July, 2024

approximate reading time: minutes

Post game poetry...

England Badge Crying Sunday Morning Poet

 

In the end the media didn't even characterise it as an heroic failure. Nor a success. The stench from the performances in the earlier rounds was too great to be forgotten so soon. Paul Mortimer's poem captures the numb hum of low expectations realised, as a contrast to the triumphalism of the TV match commentators. Bellingham's last minute overhead kick equalizer against a nation England "should beat," made me think England had not just won the Euro's in that moment, they'd won the World Cup too. Does it always have to be so dire? For as long as I can remember, England have done weird things like taken unfit superstars to the finals? Remember Bryan Robson - was he Captain Marvel at the time? Playing with his arm in a sling? Whatever, we'll always have Geoff Hurst and the enduring truism... "They think it's all over..."

 

FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS OF HURTp

There’s still just one Star on my replica shirt

Yet more time added to fifty-eight years of hurt

To our dismay another ‘Golden Generation’

Turns out to be a figment of our imagination

 

Coaches live or die by the tactics they choose

You must play to win, not just ensure you don’t lose

We cannot make the coach a figure of hate

Instead build on Gareth’s legacy to end that long wait

 

No ‘Sweet Caroline’ or ‘Hey Jude’ now in Berlin

Queen’s ‘We Are the Champions’ serenaded the Spanish win

Football didn’t ‘Come Home’, Messrs. Skinner & Baddiel

La Roja's quick skills had brought us to heel

 

Spain’s ‘lightning seeds’ – Nico and Lamine showed the way

How we hope one day our England team will play

Perhaps then a trophy will be within our range

For now, the speculation – with an expectation of change.

 

It’s farewell, bon voyage to Gareth Southgate

When it mattered most, your teams did too little, too late

Who is the man to ignite England’s spark?

FA Suits will decide at HQ, St George’s Park

 

© 2024 Paul Mortimer

Paul Mortimer
Contributor

Paul is a music fanatic and DJ's at any event that calls for a little soulful psychedelia...


about Paul Mortimer »»

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