A poem for the Germans

An ode to Germany

So as another world cup ends
we must admire our German friends
The Portuguese, they swept aside
Ghana though - well how they tried

no win for them, a two - two draw
a minor blip, an even score
then USA a nervous game
they did the job it's all the same

Three points they got and that's enough
to leave Ronaldo feeling rough
Algeria? they got knocked out
you might have thought it was a rout

but just a goal, a single strike
the Africans were on their bike
The French were next, another win
Into the semis by a sin-

-gle goal, we thought they would get more
these Germans knocking on the door
of history but who comes next?
Brazil - the hosts they weren't perplexed

With bags of style they hit the net
and six times more who could forget
the home nation they were sent packing
Those salsa boys got quite a whacking

so who would bet against the team
who moved towards the final dream
one game away from history
the plan it was no mystery

to win the game, to beat Messi
to score, was this necessary?
on penalties, the Germans knew
would be a fine way to get through

but why risk it? why wait so long?
when so much might have still gone wrong
bring Götze on, he took his shot
it was the only one they got

and in it went - whizzed past the keeper
and as the clocked ticked ever deeper
towards the end of extra time
this poet's running out of rhyme

the whistle blew, the arms went up
the Germans! - they had won the cup!

Sweepstake Poem

An epic poem about failing to win an office sweepstake I organised for the world cup. 

Prizes were available for scoring no goals, or getting knocked out on penalties, as well as for getting into the top four. I hope you like it. It took about 40 minutes to write. 


If you decide you're going to cheat

There's things to do to keep it neat

If, first to pick you get Brazil

Then who would think it luck, not skill

If Argentina's out the hat

This might raise some suspicion that

Of all the teams he could have chose

He still decided to suppose

That Latin flair might win the day

Will Messi's lads go all the way?

Perhaps to know he'll walk away

With something at the end of play

(Considering especially  

Who set the rules, yes! It was he

So picking out a woeful team

What better way, a winning scheme

So Cameroon, Nigeria

Bosnia Herzegovina 

(Apologies, atrocious rhyme

I'm writing this with little time)

Some teams so poor, such rigmarole

So unlikely to score a goal

The chance to share a crispy note

Was that enough to float his boat?

When David chose, give him his due

To pick a team all dressed in blue

A team who had eight years ago

Won the World Cup (a mighty blow

To German hopes and English dreams)

Yes Italy were his it seems

They might not win but they might boast

That they might beat the Ivory Coast

As team most likely to go out

Whose chances would be up the spout

In last sixteen or final eight

On penalties, won't that be great

But no, they failed, they went to ground

And got knocked out in the first round. 

He didn't cheat, it was just luck

He's won nothing, but won't say "bother". 

John and Rose

My wife's grandparents died a couple of weeks ago, aged 89 and within a week of each other. The funeral was today and I wrote this and read it at the service.



If I could live my life in my own home
For all my days the minimum of tears
To know that I would rarely be alone
Success and joy, then rest for many years

If I could choose to live to eighty-nine
See all with happiness and health abound
To know the one I love is always mine
Together visit all the world around

If I could choose a time to say goodbye
Ready to go, to have no fear or dread
To know my time is up, no need to try
to understand what may now be ahead

A week apart, united now above
Eternity together with my love