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For all keepers (part 1)

non humphries

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 One man stands in a metal cage,
the only one who will know how he feels stands behind him,
waiting.
Both are caged inside,
fighting mental bounds.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 One will emerge a hero,
finally aknowledged by the other ten,
until the next time.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 One will end the shoot-out,
his team-mates will want him shot,
until the next time.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 The caged cat flaps,
like a bird,
a thousand eyes bore into him,
awaiting his flight.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 He fiddles with his glove,
twitching like bait on the line.
Anything to distract the shooter,
to stop him from pulling the trigger.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 The shooter stares at the vast goal,
confused by an array of options.
He stares at the vast goal,
sees a letterbox.
Already hears the applause,
he is distracted.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Their eyes meet for a second,
and a private battle rages.
If the man in the cage allows the shooter inside,
allows himself to believe the shooter will score,
it will happen.
If he doesn’t, it will probably happen anyway.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 The caged man knows this and his eyes don’t falter,
he won’t drop his gaze,
the shooter looks away first.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 The real contest begins.
The caged man tries to keep his thoughts at bay,
thinking impares your reactions.
Think fast.
Don’t think.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 But a thousand thoughts
shoot
across his mind.

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 Will it be the wide effort,
rolling harmlessly,
leaving the shooter distraught?

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 Or perhaps that shot seems hell-bent,
on going left, before bending impossibly?
Irrepressibly.

13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 The thundering “hole in the net” maybe,
the shot that’s faster than a blink of an eye,
but not accurate enough for the eye of the needle?

14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 Then it all stops.

15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 The shooter ajusts the ball on the small white spot,
steps back.

16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 ONE STEP
this must be saved
TWO STEPS
where is he putting this?
THREE STEPS
this game’s in my hands now
FOUR STEPS
pick a corner, any corner.
FIVE STEPS
i’m ready

17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 The ball flies beautifully,
sweetly struck.
Like a bullet it flies.
The keeper crumbles,
gracelessly,
as though shot.
A heap of hands
upon the ball.
Ugly victory.

Notes

it doesn’t fit on one page, the rest is coming.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/for-all-keepers-part-1/