I think about Shankly's legendary words,

which he may not even have said:

Some people think football a matter 

of life and death. It's more important than that 

as I lie on the slab, feeling like a stiff

about to be dissected in a TV police thriller,

and hear the orderlies bustling about 

preparing for my procedure

and talking about whether they'll watch

the first Euros game tonight, 

or England's match v Croatia on Sunday.

 

Their chat settles me down, reduces

my apprehension, has me looking forward 

to the game myself when this is all over. 

And when it is all over, the Syrian doctor 

tells me they have installed five stents,

including two in the narrowest of arteries

that they fixed in the nick of time. 

And I'm euphoric, like I've won 

the league. I hadn't even guessed

I'd been staring defeat in the face. 

The NHS - what a bloody great team.