• IN celebration of the World Cup and the opportunity it provides for cultural conversation rather than bellicose confrontation:

World Cup 2018

Our team is eager for the cup;
We’ll back them all the way,
And then discuss how marvellous
It was to see them play.

Of course it may be “just a game”
But still we hope that they’ll win;
Then we’ll talk with our Russian hosts
Of Shakespeare and of Pushkin.

ROBERT ILSON
NW3