The perfect public house : has a ceiling fan
gliding all night : the pints are ice cold
outside is perpetual : inside is nice
moons are underwater always : happy
the poet ascends from the basement
with a fresh keg : stouts their sentence
thick on the bar’s mahogany : some sip
while others get ready : twist wrists
in the booths : popping packets of crisps
salted for the game : green ones are vinegar
our bar is varnished : so spills are okay
besides : so many are california sober
now a bigger ball : bob
your uncle comes in with a schnoodle
restless gentlemixes stir their drinks
ice clinks: i nick nuts
and lemon water endless : so to begin
punt punt the ball goes up
men are in corners murmuring
so we focus our hunger
ah yes : sound waves of players
lifting responding nil
points to anyone : the dots
are wanting to begin : world
ball : world ball : don’t
hit the fireplace : pass
to me : my eye is watering
with soda : there is no exit
just this : ball : drink : folded
napkin turns into a cat called
napkin : napkin : play world ball
we wrote you this poem : it won't
stop spinning
inspired by Tom Raworth's excellent World Ball poem, 'The Moon Upon the Waters' - a must-read in the core curriculum
