One I read last week

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This is an old one, written after an argument with an old friend about what he referred to as 'football banter'.  And I don't mean terrace chants or the actual team/fan-related putdowns.  I mean sweeping negative comments that go beyond the game - "ah yeah, well you know those scousers - they'd nick anything not tied down". That kind of comment, that's attributed to 'banter'.  I do get a bit het up about it...

But the hate makes sense
 
You have no idea
you see yourself
reflected in them
their chants, their jeers, their cries
sea of heaving masculinity
repulsive, compelling
attractive if you're honest
--------------oOo----------------

You see yourself
you have no idea
their red your own
strident love, rising anger, fury, rage
blazoned bias
passion stamp out reason
no room for equanimity
apathy the rival
--------------oOo----------------

You see yourself
you have no idea
pride in partition
pity the uninitiated
embrace the hate
refuel partisan past
in this pathetic quest
for another man's glory
another man's downfall
--------------oOo----------------

You have no idea
you see yourself
in them
but try to fool the world
to assert misplaced superiority
no jaw-smashing glass-throwing blood-letting match-stopping
hate
your fury insidious
emanate cold
bloodless passion
crescents bloom in soft pale palms
unconscious sneer
you spit and choke
profess your love
your hate
--------------oOo----------------

You see yourself
you have no idea
reasoned defence
rationale for hate
in the right
so infiltrated,
mind warped
father to son
life long belief
--------------oOo----------------

You have no idea
you see. Yourself
Disgust misplaced
self righteous hypocrisy
inner yob cloaked in suit and tie
undertone a litany
your genteel chorus of hate
--------------oOo----------------

You see yourself
you have no idea
your red is their own
your love is their own
your hate is their own
only, their own is true
--------------oOo----------------

See yourself
you should
just like them
just like him
you have no idea

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