Video: "Timofte Against Bonner" poem, celebrating Ireland(s) at Euro 2016

I had the pleasure of reading at the Belfast Book Festival recently, and was pretty overwhelmed by the hospitality and friendliness of everyone there. I was well-impressed with the line-up and organisation of the event, too (kudos to Keith Acheson for that) and the very charming Crescent Arts Centre.

I read a poem at the event, about Packie Bonner's penalty save against Romania in the 1990 World Cup (from my book, Evidence of Freewheeling), which sent us through to a last-8 encounter with Italy (only to be undone by Toto Schillaci's predatory instincts).

I'm delighted to see Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at the tournament together, and wish both teams the best of luck, though I do think it's a shame they don't pool their resources and play as one team (I thought "super-team" might have been a bit too strong), as the Ireland rugby team does.

Here's to exciting (and nervous) moments over the next few weeks!

Timofte Against Bonner

He walks up,
Places the ball,
Approaches slow
As a timid antelope.
 
The hunched man in grey
Follows the trail of his eyes,
The turn of his hips.
Green and golden tides
Await.
 
Timofte strikes –
His posture
Betrays.
 
Bonner saves.