The great Xmas truce of 1914

Sub zero in the trenches of Armentieres
It’s the most unheard of event in years
Amidst the ravaging spectacle of war, looms a most certain killer
As foes come together in surprising fashion, through football the great healer
Putting aside the death stench of the “Great War” before the aerial bombardment
A cacophony of despair and poisoned gas attacks, sprayed with much resent.

No guns and roses in the dressing room, no crazed Terry Butcher in full swing,
No chest thumping headbutting, door breaking
Only warm carols, silent, soft in tone,
Lone German voices mixed in with death’s moan
Joined thereafter in union with the English enemy
Echoing across no man’s land, beyond the darkened stymie

‘Tipperary’ echoes hauntingly across death’s plains;
‘Deutschland Uber Alles’ resonates like clanking chains
‘We come in peace’; the English walk into German territory
Crossing no man’s land, unarmed in hope and glory

Bully beef delicacy swapped for smokes, the amber nectar flows
Trust braveheart, wee willy Wallace, his face glows
Thus a Scot brings on a football
Will there now be a melee, a scrum or a brawl?

Helmets for goalposts, no offside, a free for all on dry ice
Foraging through the gunge, 'watch that detonating device'!
Chasing this instrument of peace, a marauding hunting pack, a free for all
Like crazed hounds or rather dogs of war, seeking the ball
The origins of Mud football are sown as the teams descend the autobahn
Thus King George’s officer embraces , albeit for a shot period, the Kaiser’s man
Where the foe was seen as a person, not from a faceless enemy clan

Merry Christmas and a hearty 3-2 result, Fritz defeating Tommy
Not a shot fired, there follows a celebratory Tsunami
The festival of love, when that which was so loathed, became for an instant, loved.
London & Bonn united, for a short moment betrothed
For once, not an ounce of hate, replaced by loving authority
Commonality, smiles, brotherhood, and most of all sorority

The dawn of Boxing day and Cap’n stockwell’s three shots signal the end of the truce.
Goodwill to all men

© Emdad Rahman - www.football.org

Comment - An Austrian at Ypres called Adolf complains at such bizarre integration.