We were so excited, weren’t we…
Fifa and the Women’s World Cup
Here in Aotearoa and big matches
free to air stadiums full to overflow

We cheered, of course we did, and
we didn’t even really care which team
well, we did, but not enough to stop
watching and cheering the winners

Spain, Spain… they had almost
a whole team defect, because, because
we were not sure why, but we soon
found out, we found out

When Spain won the world cup
and Luis Rubiales, the Fifa President 
held Hermoso in both hands to kiss
we watched replays on television

We discussed it, her arm, where it was
his intention, his position, not where he
stood at that moment but in the power
structure, and the moment, the moment

I explained to hubby, years ago, before
before we had babies, in a small apartment
a good friend came to dinner, and me
I’d cooked a lovely dinner, I love to cook

The good friend, in our very small kitchen
stood beside me and my now husband
the smallest of spaces, and greeted me
by shoving his tongue down my throat

I’m telling hubby perhaps 45 years later
and he says why didn’t you say something
and I say that I was so shocked that I didn’t 
know what to do and after all, I say

You, were standing right there, didn’t you notice?

And I’d cooked dinner
I’d cooked dinner
I hadn’t planned
to be the appetiser ...