Playing at Home, a Long Way from Home

(Dotun Odegbame’s poem)

The weather is cold, unfriendly

Everything seems alien

I’m playing at home, a long way from home

I can’t understand the manager’s jokes

But he smiles, I think he likes me

The lads all laugh, I’m not sure why

But they make me feel welcome

Not sure about chips and lager

Miss my mother’s cooking

I’m playing at home, a long way from home

The crowd have now learned my name

Some pronounce it properly

Once they chanted it for two minutes

When I scored my first goal

Don’t understand all the words

But football’s an international language

Things are getting better, playing at home

Still a very long way from home