The odd defeat of England or a victory abroad

Constitute the rare times when the Lion Rampant roared.

 

They suffer renewed expectation as the game unfolds

Ignoring the same narrative that many time’s been told

A glass of Scotch half empty though is always full of Hope

But falling in the same trap twice is known as rope-a-dope

Then fervour breeds hysteria if Scotland first should score

Making more exquisite still what Karma has in store.

 

The gold dust of their better days – Mackay, Dalgleish and Law

Mocks the wanness of today – so pitifully poor

Those warriors of yesteryear were made of sterner stuff

These boys today who wear their blue are just not good enough

 

Discarded tam o’ shanters and stilled pipes lament the pain

The Gods of Scottish Football have had their fun again

The Tartan Army leave the field soaked with a nation’s tears

We shall not see the Flower again – at least for four more years.

 

All that remains is gloating when England’s at last floored

A microcosm of self-worth – a nationalism flawed.