The Big Let Down Poem by Francis Duggan

Who will want to recall Easter Monday night
When Ramtown lads came to Oakview for fight
But all of those who came to witness the big brawl
Will have no vivid memory to recall.

For the prelude to all of this go two weeks back
When a young fellow from Ramtown ginger Jack
Received two cracked ribs and two swollen eyes
When beaten up by thuggish Oakview boys.

And though out numbered thirty five to one
And cornered in with nowhere out to run
He fought his best but he got knocked to ground
And like a football he got kicked around.

When news reached Ramtown Ginger's biker friends
Vowed that they'd have the last laugh in the end
And they challenged Oakview boys who set the date
For Easter Monday night April the eight.

And all those who love to watch a brawl were there
They came from miles around from god knows where
And local bookie Paddy Joe Mginn
Had Oakview even money for a win.

And with numerical advantage big on Oakview's side
And they at home defending Hometown pride
The astute mid aged bookie from Oakview
Lay Ramtown lads at odds of five to two.

Ten Ramtown lads on ten noisy motor bikes
Roared into Oakview Town all dressed alike
Wearing leather coats and dirty denim jeans
A real hard bunch and all of them looked mean.

These long haired chaps whose deeds bring ill renown
Had come to test the hards of Oakview Town
Armed with knuckle dusters and sharp edged pocket knives
Such weapons to endanger human lives.

They dismounted and put their bikes away
And removed their coats in readiness for the fray
They had driven more than forty miles to face
These Oakview fellows here in their home place.

In Oakview Town Square by the Mart-yard gate
The local heavies from Oakview did wait
Armed with knives and bottles, blackthorn sticks and stones
Would this be night of blood and broken bones? .

With almost three hundred onlookers in the Town Square
One could almost feel the tension in the air
And with no policemen there to keep things quiet
For Oakview this could be a shameful night.

The Ramtown gang leader a giant amongst men
Weighing eighteen stone and standing six foot ten
With long black beard and unkempt long black hair
In Ramtown he is known as 'Jim the Bear'.

And just one glimpse of him for Oakview lads seemed enough
And then suddenly they did not feel so tough
Near this huge giant their biggest man looked small
And now they felt in no good mood for brawl.

In Oakview Town Square the voice of taunt it rang
Of the giant leader of the Ramtown gang
He mocked the Oakview lads and called them out
But they felt fearful and none dare open his mouth.

There were forty in the Oakview gang or more
And ten from Ramtown odds of one to four
But the Oakview lads respected one man for his size
And to hold their peace to them seemed much more wise.

The Ramtown lads left Oakview in the gloam
A whooping loudly as they rode for home
And had they not good reason for to crow
They had conquered yet a punch they did not throw.

And what promised to be night of blood and guts
Turned out to be night of if's and but's
There may well be blood flowing in Oakview Town Square
If Ramtown lads did not have Jim the Bear.