RAVEN MACK is a mystic poet-philosopher-artist of the Greater Appalachian unorthodox tradition. He does have an amazing PATREON, but also *normal* ARTIST WEBSITE too.
Croatia has chance
to make shocking run, behind
Modric and them boys
Balkan/Slavic football has
immense World Cup history
my general lack
of support for Europe means
Denmark's off radar
second-tier teams not former
Yugoslav states miss my gaze
the Danes drizzle in
second-minute goal, before
we're even settled
Mandzukic answers quickly;
are we off to the races?
digital era
so at halftime, disappeared
for three-hour wander
walking through my small city's
not-yet-rebuilt underside
"I can always watch
the replay online when I
get back home," I thought
coconut water from the
immigrant mall tienda
graffiti under
bridges, kudzu and bamboo -
also immigrants
a handless Undertaker
figure for free beside street
someone driving by
yells "RAVEN MACK!"; down with all,
so I holler back
got home disinterested
in staring at internet
real life's powerful,
a better place to get lost
than screen rabbit holes
now naked and stankin' from
thick southern humidity
looks like Croatia
advanced on another one
gone to penalties
good weekend fix by FIFA
to lure in Americans
Messi had failure
demons come calling in their
World Cup opener
Icelandic goalkeep stopping
shouldn't miss penalty kick
Croatia was hard,
beating poor Nigeria
into submission
expect more of the same from
heartless Balkan motherfucks
physical first half,
Croats playing their normal
strong style defense
at halftime, Messi hath not
struck yet, and looks unsettled
he's had the face of
man carrying heavy weight
through qualifying
second half, simple keeper
clearance - FAILURE DEMONS STRIKE
Caballero serves
practice volley to Rebic,
who breaks the world's heart
suddenly down one, Lio
Messi looks like "what the fuck?"
Sampaoli stalks
the sideline, frantic, worried,
looking like madman
desperate struggle tragedy -
Modric delivers dagger
stoppage time third
goal, and Croatia is through
to the knockout rounds
Argentina is fucked - not
out, but they've been defeated
went public for this
one - fake German beer hall in
old Coke factory
mint kombucha on tap for
ya boy the sober Dirtgod
"Go Super Eagles!
Fuck Croatia!" quietly
since there's Croats here
wait, not Croats, just assholes,
but now also Africans
a Slavic vaper
arrives; praise Allah I quit
drinking years ago
hardcore Balkan/African
culture clash - on screen and live
more loud Africans
arrive; corner kick own goal
quiets us all down
Croatia sttles into
grinding, ball hoarding, ughness
oh Victor Moses,
please save us from this hellball
in the second half
frantic African English
begging of the football gods
errant sidewalk slam
in the box allows Modric
penalty shot goal
the mood at fake beer hall has
gotten horribly somber
meandering walk
home through town, pass post-yard sale
box full of free stuff
Nigeria didn't score,
but I got a free blender
