Poetry means many things to many people. Loosely translated, it is a short piece of imaginative writing, personal in its tone and laid out in lines.
It is an annotation, creatively constructed, and pleasing to others. It is also a form of therapy as it allows feelings from within to be emotionally expressed. To quote a cliché, “poetry is in the eye of the beholder”.
For many however, poetry is no more than a jumble of nonsensical words penned by the upper classes, read only by the female of the species. It certainly has no place in football.
Or does it?
Terrace chanting, no matter how insulting, is a form of poetic verse.
Poetry is an art form that does not require mastering. It can be tackled by anyone, of any age, and from any walk of life. Poetry lies within everyone’s soul, some good, some bad, some deep, and some quite comical.
Next time you start chanting “We Love You Sunderland, We Do…” remember this, you are expressing yourself, communicating to one and all openly and willingly in an artistic and poetic manner.
Poetry exists all around us, in greeting cards, within songs be it pop music, rock n roll, rap, punk, or lullabies and nursery rhymes. Poetry exists within the many differing forms of religion from hymns to psalms and prayers. Poetry should not be mocked or scorned at. Until you read it or try it you’ll never know just how soothing and comforting poetry can be.
So what exactly is Mackem Poetry?
Written by football fans for football fans, Mackem Poetry concentrates on what many testify as being “by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen” – Sunderland AFC.
Inspiration is a gift everyone is born with.
We all aspire for greater things in life.
Sunderland supporters have for decades aspired to see SAFC grow and prosper. The red and white masses seek glorious success, and although presently tagged with being the worst team in history, never give up their hopes and their dreams.
Mackem Poetry will be published in October 2006. Leading up till then you the supporter, the Black Cat, the Mackem, The Rokerite, The Wearsider can have your say.
Submissions are now open for all to pen their own poem be it based on memories, the current sad state of affairs, or past and memorable victories over Newcastle United, all in all the good times, the bad times, and the ugly times!
Please visit www.mackempoetry.co.uk or, provided it isn’t insulting, derogatory, libelous, or foul, and of course red and white in nature, then please email to [email protected] your poem, your contact details and if preferred a nom-de-plum to accompany your entry should it be accepted into the anthology (no email attachments, please cut and paste your poem into the body of your email).
You can also submit via more traditional methods e.g. the good old postal service. Send your entries, again not forgetting your contact details to,
JJ Publishing
P O Box 1162
Sunderland
SR4 7WS
www.mackempoetry.co.uk will be constantly updated to keep you informed of developments of the book, the selling price, where you can buy it, extracts and so on.
For further information please email [email protected], or email [email protected] to register interest in the book and be the first to know when it’s available to buy, where to buy it from and other regular updates.
