Joining The Crowd

Clearly the one thing that you belong to 
says she is the exclusivity of being you 
– but of course you don’t see it that way 

I belong to the Team says he defensively 
I am a Team man through and through 
– and be assured, I’ve come to play 

in your dreams says she – a Team of 
one whose game is to too obscure 
to draw a crowd of more than you 

surprised he asks whose is this unkind 
view – must I aspire to your good Team 
in colours, word and deed to earn true blue 

that’s up to you she says – chose any Team
or game or rules or who you heckle out aloud
but first you have to join the Crowd

that’s right, the crowd, the mob or throng –
a riot if you will but go along willingly with
the mores and attitudes pertaining thereto 

outrageous says he – and I must protest 
it chills the essence of the man, explaining 
essentially what it means to be Australian

© 27 September 2008, I. D. Carswell