The Game

This poem is about the football team Abse supports, Cardiff FC. It talks about the fans and the passion with which they support their team and oppose the other teams. 

Abse uses religious comparisons to emphasise the passion with which fans support their team. For example  'cheer the good and hiss at parting evil' demonstrates the rivalry between the two teams reinforced as the opposing team is described as 'lucifer' and 'demons' and 'Mephistopheles'. 'Demons have agents' that 'bribe' the ref suggests they are ungodly because they don't play fair. 

The comradery of the fans is presented as they as described as 'our' suggesting they are one united force. 'Hoompa' reinforces the positive atmosphere and the match day slang. 'Jugular fans' suggests they are roudy and noisy while 'injured beast' reinforces them being one being and suggests they are wild and ferocious with a lack of reason suggesting they are almost primitive in their fandom. It also shows they are loosing. After the match, the loss clearly has a big effect on them as 'clean programmes are trampled under foot' showing their annoyance can be destructive 'trampled' reinforcing them being animalistic. Furthermore 'natural the dark, appropriate the rain' suggests the environment should reflect their mood which is pained and depressed showing how deeply they take the loss. Also it is as if the seasons revolve around this match, connoting how it is a big part of the fans lives and they take it to heart. This is reinforced as 'under lamposts, threatening newsboys shout' comes across almost like a boast, and they feel so down that it seems everyone else in is in light while they are in the gloom. 'Threatening' hints at their violence suggesting they may be looking for a fight, or could suggest they take every loss personal. The heat and passion of these football fans is suggested as 'a hundred matches spark' also showing a lot of games happen here, the meaning behind the football for the players is reinforced as they are 'in a ballet dancers pose' suggesting it is an art form to the fans. Alternatively as this is describing a player on the opposing team, it may suggest he is being made a mockery of as football is meant to be manly. 

Links:

MCMXIV-soldiers compared to football fans, footballers compared to devils=contrast

Water- looks at the idea of religion

An Arundal tomb- worshiping something may not necessarily be a good thing 

'Talking in bed' something you love turning cold