THE RAUCOUS ROAR

The crowd gathers

For a natter

The game begins

Each fan hopes their team wins

There is no score

When a raucous roar

Emerges from the old, filthy stand

Many a hand

Is seen flailing

Helping

Others escape the raucous roar......

Of the flames, exit door

All blocked

Or locked

People cry

As others die

The raucous roar becomes silent

I lament

As later the facts come out

And we all read about

The club's negligence

I also wince as a year before I read

In a book about how a fire could be fed

By the litter filth unswept

Just where the fire started, inept

I thought.......

Football finally sought

Proper controls

Litter patrols

Now standard practice

So no more will the raucous roar of a fire will claim a human sacrifice.

PHILIP JEREMY WILSON

Written at Jessie's cafe,

Southsea 26th December 2019

Some football disasters are avoidable