The 500 Club with A Celtic State of Mind – Kevin Graham’s poetic tribute to Roy Aitken

Feed the Bear

The mass of bodies
swell and roll like a tidal sea
as a lone voice shouts
“Feed the Bear.”
 
Then another.
Then another.
 
As more join in
the three words speed,
like a train picking up pace,
reaching a high-pitched climax
from the beery throats of thousands.
 
Feed the Bear,
FEED the Bear,
FEED THE Bear,
FEED THE BEAR!
 
An ode to a leader
with the curly mop,
the warrior spirit,
fear, not a word he understands.
Or allows us to understand.
 
Ten men need to win the league,
cup finals to grab when facing defeat,
throw-ins to steal when seeking goals.  
At centre-half or in midfield,  
charging the team up the pitch
with bravery only born in a few.
 
Forever lifting the trophies in our centenary year,
the only bear we will ever need,
our youngest ever captain,
suiting the song we sing.
 
FEED THE BEAR!

Kevin Graham