Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Mercy Rule (Poem)

Mercy Rule 

Eyes eventually adjust to the field
flood-lit with words that darkened

at first seeing the hard fist of white
clouding the scan. This scrum's got

its own referee, gains ground
with unstoppable plays. Blinking

doesn't open the game to more
than the calculation of odds broken

out into pre-set stages, each shifting
as an assault of new toxins is tested.

Time out's a luxury, sleep indifferent
to the team still rooting for remission.

Every good coach watches the clock,
knows when to make substitutions,

lets mercy rule, even as the opposition
prepares to call the foul, put down the flag,

sets up the all stars to telegraph one
last pass before the Cinderellas volley.

© 2012 Maureen E. Doallas

12 comments:

Hannah Stephenson said...

This is beautiful, and just what I needed today.

Hannah Stephenson said...

This is beautiful, and just what I needed today.

emmett wheatfall said...

A very powerful poem. Love the use of couplets for this poem. I so love your work, Maureen. I think you know that by now.

hedgewitch said...

Hard to approach topic handled with depth and clarity, even a somber beauty. Measured and strong all the way through.

Brian Miller said...

smiles...nice use of sports in analogy...mercy is a gift...and every once in a while a cinderella wins and gives us hope...

Laurie Kolp said...

I love your approach, Maureen. I do hope it's not true.

Maureen said...

Laurie, my brother died of cancer in 2009. I've lost a grandfather and aunts to the disease as well and more friends than I can count any more. I find I still have to write on the subject. It seems always to be with me.

flaubert said...

A very beautiful poem on a difficult subject, Maureen.

Pamela

S. Etole said...

This tells it well.

Unknown said...

Oh, Maureen, how powerful the comparison of an athletic competition to a battle against cancer. Especially powerful, when one fully understands a true athlete's inability to lose! Fabulous.

Wolfsrosebud said...

like how you started with darken eye then end with stars... hope

Anonymous said...

Brave and beautiful. "..Lets mercy rule" is such a profound and powerful concept.