Matthias Sindelar

Archives Series: First published by Football Poets, April 2005

I made football warlike
taking a stand in our final game
two became one: Anschluss
I am not a border to be rolled over

no salute like the Munich appeasers;
a goal     a dance
a bloody nose
play to the whistle lads

swastika arms flap as the globe
slips from their grasp
this is more than life and death
this is war, my Austria

play to the whistle, lads.