The Liverpool boss was pretty chuffed with himself,

said the news report, for being so tough

when he decided to snub the obvious choice

and go instead for the goal machine.

I’m over the moon, they said he said.

I’m over the moon, he said.

The Barnsley manager was lost for words

to describe his feelings when Chelsea fell

to the Tykes. We played fantastic.

I never thought we’d do it again

but we did, we did, and all I can say is

I’m over the moon, they said he said.

I’m over the moon, he said.

The Hollywood mum was way beyond thrilled

according to friends, when she delivered

into the world, not one bouncing baby

but twins instead to the astonished dad.

I’m over the moon, they said she said.

I’m over the moon, she said.

Bollywood’s hottest couple was proud to be blessed

by the jubilant father, the superstar.

It’s a match made in heaven, he said to the press,

Between two shooting stars with shining careers

and I’m over the moon, of course, he said.

I’m over the moon, he said.

The Malaysian nation went mad with joy

on independence day in its fiftieth year

when a doctor-cum-part-time-model,

a local boy, went up into space in a Russian Soyuz

and in zero gravity, performed his namaaz.

All of Malaysia over the moon, they said on the news,

twenty-seven million people over the moon.

You must have noticed, it’s really quite clear,

this condition has spread, it’s happening there,

it’s happening here. It’s full-blown, grown

beyond every border, to the furthest corner

of every country where English is spoken

or English is known.

There’s no one just satisfied or mildly pleased

or chipper or chirpy, contented or cheerful,

no one glad or gratified, delighted or jubilant,

elated, ecstatic, joyful or gleeful.

All the happy people have left this world.

You won’t come across them any time soon

and if it’s happy sound-bites you’re looking for

you need to look way over your head

for the words in balloons

to the place where the cow keeps jumping

over and over

with all the footballers, team managers

and lottery winners, world superstars,

heroes and champions and legends and lovers

and proud mums and dads

and the whole of Malaysia

over the moon

over the moon

over the over the over the moon.

IMTIAZ DHARKER