straight
from the whistle
i played wide receiver
to sacrificial
passes.
i turned to run
catching
nurture;
i tripped but
ran again
to catch
a country's
heritage.
(2)
nature
knocked me
down,
but i donned
my gloves,
got up
and ran
to catch
education,
freedom,
faith,
family,
health,
healing,
home,
sense,
sensuality,
spirit...
(3)
at half-time
i recognised and
began to revere
sacrificial
team-mates:
you who blocked,
and block
for me daily
at the line of scrimmage;
you quarterbacks
who fired me darts
of hope
to connect with.
(4)
in the final quarter,
the endzone waits
for all;
tactics, in time, change
and so i begin to
play the passing game
for my own
wide receivers.
with sacrifice and
grace,
let me pass the
ball
of all I am
to you.
Posted for Poetry Jam: Sacrifices.
(With reference to any American Football fans, I'm a complete novice and if I've mistaken any aspect of the sport I profoundly apologise!)
Excellent!! So much to think about here. I love the 'darts of hope' and the passing of the ball 'of all I am to you.' You put a wonderfully positive slant on sacrifice. Hats off to you!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful metaphor with the football game... and team sports do require sacrifice.
ReplyDeletenice...its a team sport this life...we are in it together...sometimes we sacrifice our body to block for another...and other times its us they are doing it for...
ReplyDeleteI'll play on your team any time.
ReplyDeleteAnother nice work ND.
A great relation of life to football. A poem I can share with my kids that they might listen to- thanks!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, clever and current! Touchdown!!!
ReplyDeleteND as always, a well written and wonderful write--I love how you wove the sacrifice in and out (passing plays?)
ReplyDeleteI love how you wove realities of life into the process of the game. I'm not too familiar with the game of football, but I know the game of life and you describe it well here.
ReplyDeleteI tried to comment but something got weird here with the posting of it. I do like the metaphor in your poem! Never thought of those helper players as sacrificing before but I see what you mean.
ReplyDeleteThe final four lines are the clicher which you set up very well.
ReplyDeleteVery cool how you did this David. I like how you used this metaphor. Nice work!
ReplyDelete...great write and with the reference to such a difficult game... sometimes we need to sacrifice even our companions to achieve one common goal for the benefit of the whole... loved your take... smiles...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the extended metaphor here! So nicely done, Davie!!!
ReplyDeleteSo powerful and I feel so honored for all in my life that have passed the ball. Thank you for this. Beautifully weaved.
ReplyDelete