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.
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!
not much to this Group
A finale, other than
position jostling
Saudi Arabia and
Egypt playing just for pride
sad that Salah was
denied his moment again -
and been used as pawn
such a beautiful face for
what Islam really could mean
Uruguay Russia
playing to see who loses
to who in knockout
doesn't feel like either
of these teams beat heavyweights
but Putin's Russia
is master engineer of
fixed results... who knows?
advancing more important
than posturing for dictates
our anti-hero
Luis Suarez strikes first blood,
with an early score
Uruguay keeps attacking,
get a second off own goal
meanwhile, our true
hero Mo Salah scores first
non-penalty goal
would have loved to see Salah
go further into stardom
the Saudis receive
penalty - it's saved by dear
old El Hadary
what wonderful moment to
cap El Hadary's story
second penalty
earned (questionably) - Saudis
convert second one
how much money was wagered
on draw via Russian mob?
in other match, the
Russians sub out star player
by half - safety first
looks like Uruguay first, with
Russia second, without doubt
Portugal or Spain
(or Iran) would gladly take
Russia in bracket
Uruguay seems to have woke -
Sky Blue woke is a threat
Galeano thoughts
make me fond of Uruguay,
despite Vampiro
to turn phrase or sport into
poetry should be revered
Uruguay Russia
second half gets started first,
running out the clock
our Gulf challenge is only
real drama left for Group A
Wahhabi dogma
versus Mohamed Salah's
gracious good nature
la ilaha illallah
la ilaha illallah
meanwhile, Dzyuba
is the face of fascism,
fouling Latin veins
Cavani desires a goal
pretty bad, finally scores
Uruguay wins Group
A, Russian is second;
Arab match goes on
Russian mob gambling theory
feeds last minute Saudi goal
Russia shockingly
had biggest win of first time
through group stage match-ups
geopolitics favor
denying metaphysics
Mo Salah's return
invigorates Egyptian
dreams of knockout stage
Salah such a special dude,
got me saying "inshallah"
in Salah I trust,
hoping for energetic
post-Ramadan strength
Salah is cat-like, toying
with these Russian defenders
Russia’s organized;
African football means kick
it ahead - attack
Egypt’s ball movement seem like
button combos you don’t know
a falling Fathi
own goal gifts Russia the lead;
Egypt finds their heels
on your heels no way to play,
and Russia scores a second
Dzyuba adds a third,
with a militaristic
salute afterwards
a fitting celebration
of Eurocentric tactics
the jihad’s been lost -
organized mechanistic
football beats spirit
will we ever have ourselves
another Maradona?
pomp and circumstance
opening ceremonies -
wave flags uselessly
Putin's opening remarks'
Orwellian translator
FIFA corruption
rewarded Russian rubles,
thus we have today
the Russian team’s not so good,
nothing like Soviet days
meanwhile, House of Saud’s
Wahhabi Kingdom built team
full of Muhammads
Ramadan might leave Saudi
team stalling, lacking full tank
most of both these teams'
players come from domestic
leagues back home (that's rare)
fewer European league
ringers means much more raw match
Yury Gazinsky
scores this World Cup tournament's
first goal off the dome
that was twelve minutes in; by
half-time, Ramadan effect
sluggish performance
by green defenders allowed
second first-half goal
second half was mostly host
nation coasting towards three points
playing for Putin,
Dzyuba put twin Spetsnaz strikes
to this Saudi team
VIP box, Putin shrugged
his shoulders at Saudi prince
