A HEADLINE, “Days of Thunder”, caught my eye somewhere recently.

I can’t recall, now, what it was all about; but it triggered an idea in my mind – thoughts of days down the decades when seminal events in Celtic history occurred. The #TIMVERSE that follows is the product of that moment of …  … well, let’s just call it “Timspiration”?

It features a random and highly subjective selection of such days … a whimsical potted history of some of the beacons on the high ground of Celtic history … presented in what I hope you will find an entertaining and stimulating format.

“Hail! Hail! The Celts are here!”

 

“Days of Thunder”

 … when Walfrid, Glass, and Welsh

had seized the day

and launched a cause …            

 

… when ould acquaintance

flared in auld Cathcart

and legend loomed –

the thunder boomed!                 

 

… when Neilly’s strike

first smote the ancient foe

and lit a fuse …     

 

… when the cream of Scotia

stepped up to the plate

and led the charge …

 

… when a bhoy from Croy

led Maley’s mighty line

and men were men …

 

… when Patsy

fused atomic grit with guile

and broke the mould –

the thunder rolled!

 

… when young McGrory

set the game alight

and carved his niche …

 

… when spoils like Lizzie’s

Cup came up for grabs

and the Celts stepped in …

 

… when bathed in Hampden

sun we sang in praise

and stayed to gloat …  

 

… when a million tremors

shook the Jungle floor

and big Tam prowled –

the thunder growled!

 

… when exiled Stein came home

trumped Europe’s best

and cured the game …

 

… when in the heat of Lisbon

thousands came

and Lions roared …

 

… when Real craved

restitution in Madrid

and Jinky wowed …

 

… when pre-Milan

euphoria had waned

and Timdom sighed

… … the thunder died.                      

 

… when big Jock’s green machine

eclipsed the field

and clocked up ‘9’ …   

 

… when odds were stacked

but ten men won the league

and wrote their page –

the thunder raged!              

 

… when Tayside trauma

triggered broken hearts

and the peepel reeled –

the thunder pealed!              

 

… when Cesar forged

Centenary delight

and slayed the beast …

 

… when Fergus played his hand

to blunt the axe

and the rebels won …

 

… when our Norsemen

stuck it to Auld Dignity

and ‘10’ got zapped –

the thunder clapped!

 

… when Jo prescribed

a dose of Lubo craft

and sorcery …

 

… when Martin cast his spell

re-kindled faith

and spawned Seville …

 

… when Lenny’s moonlight vision

caught his breath

and stirred his soul …

 

… when Brendan heard the call

embraced the gig

and sealed the pact –

the thunder cracked!

 

… when long Tom

nailed ‘Invincibility’

and the label stuck –

the lightning struck!

 

Copyright © 25thMay1967, June 2017