His One Chance (Poetry)

The thump of ball on brick
he’s out there in the rain
practicing
hour after hour the same
the black kid on the block

no one with him
quite alone
he’s every player on the pitch
he will outsmart them all
his skill
is almost legend.

And the thump reverberates
from wall to wall to wall
and if it drives the neighbours mad
they’re quiet about it

for he’s been out there
sun or snow
for months and hardly
missed a day
as if he knows it
might be the only way
of escaping.

He wears the blue and white
a magic strip
to suit his dreams
and imagination scores
another goal
for England

while he thumps and thumps
and thumps away
through heat or cold
chock-full of hope
he’ll be the one
to break the mould
he concentrates upon the ball
slamming home
his one chance
to shine.