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
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
12 comments:
This is beautiful, and just what I needed today.
This is beautiful, and just what I needed today.
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.
Hard to approach topic handled with depth and clarity, even a somber beauty. Measured and strong all the way through.
smiles...nice use of sports in analogy...mercy is a gift...and every once in a while a cinderella wins and gives us hope...
I love your approach, Maureen. I do hope it's not true.
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.
A very beautiful poem on a difficult subject, Maureen.
Pamela
This tells it well.
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.
like how you started with darken eye then end with stars... hope
Brave and beautiful. "..Lets mercy rule" is such a profound and powerful concept.
Post a Comment