Michael Newman
On the Day of the World Cup Final
Just now the stand-off is News Extra,
Barricades at Garvaghy Road,
Law and order – Orange Order,
And the set-piece confrontation.
The hoots and jeers
And football rattles
Converge on one act of hatred.
Football? Kick off at eight o’clock.
The French have gone ahead,
Champions Brazil drop shoulders,
Slouch.
Threats of the noose-spectre
From penal die-hards;
Troops man the barricades,
Are visited by out-of-season fireworks.
Petrol bombs light the sky,
Aurora non-borealis.
Two up. The French have scored
From set-piece,
Set the stadium alight.
Football lives – relives valour.
Barricades at Garvaghy Road;
A petrol bomb through the letterbox.
Orange Order.
Three boys burned to death,
Their skin beyond peeling.
In the dying moments of the game,
The French have scored a third goal.
Blood, charcoal-flesh,
Rivers of Orange against
Immovable barricades,
And a wall of contempt.
Into thy loving arms, O Lord
Into thy loving arms, O Lord
Commend these souls.
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