‘More Chelsea Than Sunderland’ was prompted by the remark of a doctor of a friend of mine, when asked to comment on his chances of survival from cancer.
It was a serendipitous moment which I must have tucked away for future use, coming upon it in a notebook once my treatment was completed. By then Chelsea had lifted the Premiership title and England had gone out of the World Cup. It seemed interesting to me to link two facets of life, the impact of which were unpredictable and capricious, and yet, like a goal once scored, apparently inevitable.
More Chelsea Than Sunderland
for Humphrey Potts
Your doctor’s line predicting
your survival
tickled me
watching Terry lift the trophy
before the World Cup
debacle
inevitable as May following April
thinking I should be happy
imagining
that champagne moment
from Riddance (Worple Press, 2012)
Lifesaving Poems 
I really like your poem and the comment that instigated it. It reminded me of my breast care nurse who was a wonderful Valleys woman (I was in Monmouth) and asked me how I was a few days after I got home. I said I was ok but Ruth Picardie had just died of breast cancer and so it was a bit hard. She said ‘Oooh I know – it’s like when you’re on a diet, you see chocolate everywhere.’ I laughed and I’ve remembered it ever since! x
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Dear Alicia
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on my poem and accompanying post. It really means a lot that these things find the right audience and take on a life of their own. I’m so pleased this one reached you. With best wishes and thanks, Anthony
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