James Walton #117 (even though I have to jump)

in these streets

they still play end to end

and three goals in

the old mine siren sounds

at midday, every day,

as though the shift will come up

all one coaled nationality

the only town

that voted to stay out in ‘49

as the army threatened to roll through

the Shire Office has a sign,

we welcome refugees here

the thud of the footy landed

a yell of the mark taken

a Macedonian’s freak goal

I ask the Malaysian guy

for the correct pronunciation

of Number Four

he laughs with me and says, Number Four

putting down the Singapore noodles

the Sherrin’s in my hands to pass

the Sudanese kid seems eight foot tall

probably twelve years old

I do my famous stab drop kick

he jabs it through the pencil pines

one kid says not fair

well,

a high five’s only got one translation

(even though I have to jump)