It was a sacred ritual
Saturday night at five
Out of the Blue was playing
Then the scores came on live
Vernons’ pools or Littlewoods
Daddy checked them all
Eight score draws we’re looking for
Twenty-four points in all
Working down the mine all week
Weekend brought some pleasure
Home for tea and check the coupon
A workingman and leisure
I heard the music play one time
On the coach after playing Burnley
I knew the world was listening in
Those draws were found so rarely
But the country was united then
Listening to that voice
James Alexander Gordon
His baritone deep and choice
But nothing lasts forever
The classifieds have gone
The modern world doesn’t need them now
And the world as we know moves on
It’s a bit like the Latin Mass of old
A familiar routine there
Suddenly it is no more
It’s English now for prayer
And aunty Bea she made me laugh
Her Irish priest a picture
Instead of Dominus Vobiscum
Now it’s ‘the Lord bewitcher’!
Brian Fahy
20 August 2022
Erris Poetry 