This is me reciting the poem below (2 minutes, 19 seconds)
The Black Guard
The man in black stands resolutely on a field of war.
The enemy engulf him with a belly-curdling roar
but still he stands, the solit'ry upholder of the law
and does the thing he knows he has to do.
A man he is, in every sense, like Kipling's definition:
who keeps his head while all about protest at his decision.
Though they may curse and ridicule while questioning his vision,
he does the thing he knows he has to do.
Few friends he has on Saturdays when out he steps at three.
No man is more courageous than the football referee.
In every game, he's always fair though some would not agree
for he ignores what they want him to do.
He's armed with just a book, a watch, a whistle and a ball
and two flag-bearers, timid, thin and usually quite small
who, luckily for them, are not much use if there's a brawl
when referees must do what they must do.
It is Wembley, World Cup, extra time in 1966:
Geoff Hurst receives the ball from Alan Ball, he turns and kicks.
It hits the bar and drops, but has it passed between the sticks?
And now the ref is not sure what do.
He runs to meet his linesman, who has one important rôle.
The verdict favours England. Now, the Germans lose control.
And even now they quibble, but of course it was a goal!
We knew the ref was right and still we do.
The ref is always useful as the scapegoat for the losers:
“Three penalties we should have had! How could the man refuse us?!”
And ladies, close your ears if you should pass the local boozers
when they say what the ref should go and do.
What sort of man would do all this without a thought of shame?
Why does he do it? Can't be money. Can't be lust for fame.
He will say it's just because he loves the blessed game
and doing what he knows he has to do.
At last the season ends and all the honours have been won.
The glamour-seeking champions are lapping up the sun
while the ref is in the garden, having simple, quiet fun
and doing only what he wants to do.
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This poem is from my lovely book. Please click it, buy it, read it, spill coffee on it and tell me you love it so much you need to buy another one. :0)
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