On Where I am Home...

In bringing it under your control
with one touch

In seeing the ball fly like an arrow
the result of a perfect hit

In playing under floodlights
on astroturf as smooth as carpet

In the hypnotic rhythm of the great teams
control - touch - pass - move
control - touch - pass - move
mesmerising
as they combine perfect passing,
intelligent off-the-ball movement,
and positional awareness
exquisite, living, breathing, geometry
to open the tightest defences

In the perfect combination
of individual skill
and collective will

In explosions of pace,
and displays of perfect technique
and one-v-one battles across the pitch

In histories, and random geography
and team colours, and pageantry

In it's purest form,
less of a sport
more of an art

In all of this
and more besides
I am home

Ahhhhhhhhhh

how to make you know
how much I love this?

know, dear one
of the things of this world
only four make me genuinely happy

a book in my hands
a ball at my feet
a child in my arms

and

your hand in mine*

---------------

*Don't get too excited - I have no idea who I'm saying this to. It just fit.