The Return of the Plaintiff

David Beckham - Much-maligned, majestic, minted and misunderstood

Brazen bespoke blessed brilliance
brimful of burnished bygones

Ethereal endeavour embellished in Eden
evocative emotional - England expects

Contemporary centrefold cool calibration
compelling compulsive classic control

Kickback kick-off killer ball king
knee-jerk knife-edge karma kudos

Haircut habitat half-time half-truth
head-on hostility heart throb hysteria

Absolute ability ammunition ablaze
alice band agitprop aspersions aplomb

Much-maligned majestic minted misunderstood
measured metatarsal milestone Manchester

With cloth cut accordingly and eye cut on the bias
and ruddy-faced complexions stoking antagonistic fires
an indellible imprint is left upon the turf
now the man's packed his kitbag, his sense of worth
in confusion, disillusion - more sinned against than sinned
but the only visible holes are from where hopes have been pinned

heading north, the prodigal son returns to his spiritual home
carefully wrapped in a whiter shade of pale
blissfully immune to the new strain of hysteria
those organised games of faults versus virtues
a fast-fading memory
blown away like confetti in the wind
beneath his own constellation

the brilliantly articulated statements
from well outside the box
the golden diagonal balls
and the cross that rocks

where are you now the talking wounded?
your mass produced criticism spectacularly misplaced

idolised, mercurial, three lionised
click on an icon
and celebrate the difference