The Echo of the Beautiful Game

I was kicked and kicked all my life,

by children in dusty streets,

by dreamers beneath fading floodlights,

and every match took a little more of me,

until I was nothing

but this

bounce

bounce.

*

I rest alone in the center circle,

waiting for the whistle,

the crowd silent,

the grass shining beneath the evening sky.

Then a voice rises from the stands,

"Come on! One more goal!"

Goal!

The players rush toward me,

their hopes tied to my seams,

their dreams stitched into my leather skin.

A young striker calls,

"Pass it here!"

Here!

A captain points toward the open field,

"Forward! Keep moving!"

Moving!

I fly through the air,

past defenders,

past doubt,

past fear.

For a moment,

I touch the stars.

The crowd erupts,

"Score!"

Score!

A boot strikes true,

and I race toward destiny.

The goalkeeper dives,

the net trembles,

the stadium holds its breath.

Then—

goal.

Goal!

The roar crashes over me like thunder.

Strangers embrace.

Children scream.

Old supporters wipe tears from their eyes.

For one beautiful second,

an entire city beats with one heart.

But the cheers fade,

the lights grow dim,

the fans return home,

and the field grows quiet once more.

I lie alone beneath the moon,

waiting for another dreamer,

another match,

another miracle,

holding only this

echo

echo.

I was kicked and kicked all my life,

by children in dusty streets,

by dreamers beneath fading floodlights,

and every match took a little more of me,

until I was nothing

but this

bounce

bounce.

*

I rest alone in the center circle,

waiting for the whistle,

the crowd silent,

the grass shining beneath the evening sky.

Then a voice rises from the stands,

"Come on! One more goal!"

Goal!

The players rush toward me,

their hopes tied to my seams,

their dreams stitched into my leather skin.

A young striker calls,

"Pass it here!"

Here!

A captain points toward the open field,

"Forward! Keep moving!"

Moving!

I fly through the air,

past defenders,

past doubt,

past fear.

For a moment,

I touch the stars.

The crowd erupts,

"Score!"

Score!

A boot strikes true,

and I race toward destiny.

The goalkeeper dives,

the net trembles,

the stadium holds its breath.

Then—

goal.

Goal!

The roar crashes over me like thunder.

Strangers embrace.

Children scream.

Old supporters wipe tears from their eyes.

For one beautiful second,

an entire city beats with one heart.

But the cheers fade,

the lights grow dim,

the fans return home,

and the field grows quiet once more.

I lie alone beneath the moon,

waiting for another dreamer,

another match,

another miracle,

holding only this

echo

echo.