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
Spanish side survived
coaching instability
with weaker group draw
on paper (or website) should
be far better than Russia
Russian team playing
with house money, advancing
past expectations
Russia has chance for upset -
back room ruble influence
set piece tragedy -
falling Russian elder gets
own goaled from behind
Ramos always in middle
of questionable bullshit
Pique handball on
corner kick allows Dyuba
to tie it back up
national stadium home
crowd going fuckin' bonkers
start of second half,
Russian crowd roaring with each
possession's advance
Spanish side grinding to halt,
seeming to lack a spark plug
Russia makes their third
substitution with thirty
minutes still to play
that's minimum - extra time
now allows for a fourth change
sub Iniesta
almost scores late minute punch,
but a stretching save
extra time situation,
in cramping humidity
Russian legs appear
exhausted, but fighting for
penalty shoot-out
Russian defense - as real life -
stubborn, stifling, resistant
in a pouring rain,
we have penalty finish -
testing keepers' wills
amazing fifth penalty
kick save - Russia slays Spain!
