Love, Religion and Football Boots
© Rommi Smith, BBC Artist in Residence for the Commonwealth Games 2002

Written after watching the crowd gathered in Exchange Square, Manchester, to watch the England v Argentina match (7/06/02). First performed on Vanessa Kirkpatrick's Saturday morning programme 8th June 2002.

The screen the hook to sets of eyes
Reflecting gleam of rouge and white

Crosses, players testify a nation's worth
An old religion - a new shirt

The choir sings the opposition down
Is this send in the glory, or send in the clowns?

To battle, to bare, to brandish, bring home
The glory, the goal, before chance is gone.

A wish, a wager, a window, a war?
Turf politics in Technicolor

A leader's landscape, a loser's retreat
Players veto campaigns, gain votes with their feet

Monopolise a language of dribble and tackle
Centre and striker, offside and shootout

The game is life - its detail rituals
That end and begin - come full circle

The soul transcends the body, one means not alone
Crowd desires piggyback players; each one

Calling for victory and scoop and headline
Making heroes, saying prayers before fulltime