When he tackled again, I was left feeling weak!
Then to lose the last game, and stay top of the league
It's a perfect conclusion, opinions won't sink
Just a simple illusion, of how others think

They dive on the surface, then smile with pride
Did he do it on purpose? Was he trying to hide? 
Gazed through his soul, as he tried to act proud
But he followed his goal, just to blend with the crowd

I would play a pass through, if he tried making space!
He might find, being true, would reward him first place!
With his fans in their seating, he took centre stage
When I knew he was cheating, he turned a new page!

He stood, then declared, he was wearing a mask
Left feeling so scared to go through with the task!
Kicked the ball out the way, then I tried to be friends
But he threw it in play, then ran back in defence

When the ref had revealed there was one vital minute
He barged through my midfield, determined to win it!

Open goal!!, last man!! With no place to hide!
I stood like the linesman, to flag him offside

Now, it wasn't my mission to draw the red card
For this crucial decision came down on him hard

Let the truth take its toll, but i wasn't forgetting!!
Your previous "goal?", had came off the side netting **

I sat in the chair, and picked out the first card
"I' have chosen a dare!", "Please don't make this one hard!"
As I said my last prayer, this is what they're assuming
"Now you've chosen a dare", "And must live as a woman!"
I turned with a smile, not my best poker face
As it took them a while, to pick up the pace
Moved the card off the table, placed inside my pocket
Until they were able, to find, they forgot it!

But to their surprise, I had stayed in the game
Not as one of the guys!, I had chose a new name!
"You're actually good!", "Have you played this before??"
And without being rude, I had walked out the door
"Are you leaving the game?", "Why's "he" acting so strange?"
"He" had chose a new name", "Then left for a quick change"
Having wore the same jacket, card sealed at the chest
As they searched through the packet, I revealed my dress

"I have a confession!" "And I bring you some proof"
"The card I did mention, was actually a truth Held on front of my dress, like a statement, so bold!
"Now you boys play the rest!"
"But, I'm choosing to fold!!" **

This story you'll hear, could be one of a kind
But no matter how clear, it's like leading the blind
Down through a chamber, I find, when I'm dreaming
Stuck in my mind, or a daze, with no meaning
Something I witnessed, without any truth
As I sat by myself, all alone, on the roof
Listened to magpies, chirping with joy
Three for a girl?, Four for a boy?
In black and white?, or so they seem?
Then under the light, I saw traces of green
A sign I had seen her, and given the choice
As bold as the magpies, raising their voice
With nothing between her, and no great divide
The grass became greener, on the other side

The magpies had joined, then one became two
But this one had swooped down in bright shades of blue
The colours tell secrets, but to the trained eye
One represents grass, one mimics the sky
Then as if by nature, they were a couple
Flying together, revealing a purple
A gift when you worship the smallest of things
Lifting your spirits, then spreading your wings

Each little magpie, has stories to tell
And I know that deep down, you have one as well
You're holding in something, with traces of gold
Are you seven for a magpie, never to be told??? **

An urge to escape, fastened with a belt
Senses of conflict, preparing to melt
Imagine a life concealed as a boy
Thought upon others dancing with joy
Feelings of envy?, questions?, and hopes?
The life of a female ******* in ropes
Cut me some slack, to emerge from this shell
With the strength to stand up, whenever I fell
Forget what they said, they're stuck on rewind
Attempt to look forward, and leave them behind
Letting the sand seep through the glass
Each grain of sand, a day in the past
Setting the scene in dark shades of grey
My very own painting intended this way
Although I did say, that's what I intend
Fine traces of colour mix into the blend
They bleed and descend, like inside a dream
No need to pretend, if you know what I mean?
Unlocking a shutter, to view the next stage
That's just the book cover, before the next page
Was I on the verge of a long waiting game?
As all of the pages were numbered the same
A feeling of doubtfulness hit at close range
And half the way through, I noticed a change
But as I look back, in outbursts of laughter
My worries had vanished into the next chapter
This story I told, is split into two
And it starts with the old, revealing the new
A lesson that change is both patience and time
As every grey cloud has a fine silver line
My last stroke of paint, lets give it a chance?
And it's signed at the bottom
By Claire Torrance