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.
continuing my
anti-colonial stance
easier this group
Iceland and Croatia both
fragments of historic wholes
my gaze focused on
Rostov-on-Don where Messi's
failure demons lurk
pair of superpowers from
sub-servient continents
Naija passion
running high octane Super
Eagles in deep green
Argentine drama also
high - squad coup attempt denied
Messi's mom said he
cried after Croatia match -
crowd is still sky blue
Musa is Nigeria's
Messi, but with a Moses
whenever Messi
with ball near the box feels like
adult versus kids
his confidence seems to have
quieted his failure demons
demons grow louder
as the ninety minutes drip
away in seconds
Messi finally scores - and
Maradona thanks Jesus
Messi has same god
complex Diego does, yet
is somehow lesser
young Nigerian keeper
fingers off Messi free kick
early second half
energies intensify -
Mascherano foul
cool Victor Moses converts
with flair; the demons whisper
Croatia scores, which
makes Iceland irrelevant
if that result holds
Rostov-on-Don remains a
tense winner-take-all affair
Uzoho only
nineteen, on World's brightest stage,
and thus far shining
Sampaoli starts stalking
sideline like fool hooligan
Musa cross through to
Ndidi near-dagger strike
for Argentina
Gylfi gets equalizer
against Croatia - tied there
Nigerian free
kick almost sealed victory -
SO FUCKIN' INTENSE
bloody Mascherano looks
intimidating as fuck
Marcos Rojo nails
cross to give Argentina
hope for a future
Maradona with double
middle fingers, yells "puto"
Maradona's trash,
and Messi is an asshole -
they deserve to lose
Nigeria seems beaten,
even with time left to play
four minutes added
time like an eternity
for African hopes
Argentina wins - FIFA
wins - corporate sponsors win
the Super Eagles
sporting the Worldest Cuppest
jerseys possible
I’ll be an old man searching
future ebay for these joints
Iceland means we’ll get
more thunder claps and mad dudes
sporting -son surnames
proud tiny tribalism
of island motherfuckers
this is a tale of
two barely known goalkeepers,
both of whom done well
Iceland’s Halldorsson had that
big Messi penalty kill
Uzoho only
19, on much bigger stage
than Spanish B-league
I love matches like this one -
underdogs sharing power
halftime still level,
meaning Argentina rides
bottom of table
early second half, Moses
and Musa show classic flair
soft and sweet assist
on breakaway, delicate
single touch then strike
later, Musa jukes goalkeep,
dances past defenders - that’s two
is Iceland shook? yes,
Gylfi even shanks easy
penalty; they’re shook
thunder claps silenced, replaced
by joyous west African drums
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
