Book Ten

Teams

Swapped out

Week's laundry 

Before practice, 

One locker stayed closed, 

Game soiled uniform hooked,

Equipment spread on bottom.


Proud

Hektor 

Put on cold,

Bloody armour

Passed to Achilles 

By Peleus, borrowed 

By Patroklos, stripped from corpse.


Coach

Coerced

Tongue-tied, when

Once quarterback 

Declined position 

Reinstatement, would aide

Wide receiver's transition.


Coach

Addressed 

Team: QB

Out for season;

Old wide receiver 

Would take it on under

Guidance of old quarterback.


Wise

Aias

Petitioned 

Menelaus:

Send Antilochos

To report the death of

Patroklos to Achilles.


A

Select 

Group of third

Form boys walked down 

To basement showers

On Sunday afternoon,

Wearing bathrobes, holding towels.


Balls,

Hiked to 

Quarterback, 

Passed on learning 

Curve to receivers,

Playbook failed to translate,

Team frustration palpable.


News

Of death

Delivered,

Achilles mourned

Loss of Patroklos,

Swore revenge: Hektor's death;

Thetis sought out Hephaitos.


Robes

Hooked, towels

Draped on top,

Hot taps mixed with 

Cold, steam rose; boys stood

Side to side, backs to backs,

Along showers, facing tiles.


Pained

Watching

Friend's fumbles,

Spurned quarterback 

Came around, spoke in

Private with friend, current 

Coach, rejoined varsity squad.


Hands

Grabbed feet

To drag corpse,

Aiantes pushed back;

At Iris' urging,

Achilles cupped his hands

Around mouth to shout from ditch.


Boys

Shampooed

Their hair, grabbed

Soap bars, lathered

Faces, necks, chests; reached 

Across backs, down thighs, legs; 

Rinsed off, talking through the steam.


As

Promised,

Alumnus'

First born replaced

Public school recruit,

New, old coaches shook hands,

Athletic director watched.


Corpse 

Washed, oiled,

Wounds sealed with

Unguents, shrouded,

Divine ambrosia,

Nectar fed to forestall

Any spoilage from maggots.


Eyes

Darted,

Stared, as steam

Obscured a white

Soap bar, furtively 

Circumnavigating 

A red blood engorged penis.


Flags

Unfurled,

Uniforms 

Freshly laundered, 

Chalk lines re-rolled on

Mowed, playing fields, grandstand 

Assembled over bleachers.


God's

Armour

Delivered,

Anger with Greeks

Redirected by

Achilles at Hektor,

Gathered Achaians feasted.


Eyes

Blanked, pink,

Puckered, backs

Turned around, taps

Twisted off, towels grabbed,

Rubbed across skin, bathrobes 

Unhooked, tied around bodies.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Ten

On Stomach, Raise left knee, Hip, shoulder to Side sit, right elbow  On mat, ending up in  Bottom starting position. Rags Ripped off, Nude beggar Shot next arrow  Through Antinous' neck, Suitors, alarmed, failed to  Recognise Odysseus. Coach Moved back, You stepped down, Turned to face him, He acknowledged your Recent achievements, asked About diet, skin issues. In Neutral  Position, Drop level, left Knee to mat, right knee  Up, penetrate between  His legs, neutral, back to back. Blame Placed on Antinous Dismissed, suitors Slain, Telemachus  Took arms, storeroom, not locked, Melanthius armed suitors. Two Fourth form  Boys caught by Prefect having  Sex while dorm empty: Most boys at Saturday  Night film, rumours traveled fast. Stand Behind  Partner, hands On his hips in Bottom position, When he circles left, right, Stay behind him, same level. The Traitor  Captured, hands, Feet bound behind, Strung from storeroom beam, Athe...
Read more

Book Eleven

Stand, Front on Partner's side, Hands around his  Waist, drop down, lift him,  Twist from hips, right shoulder  In his back, take him to mat.  Wife To her Husband now Reunited, What Tiresias Foretold, journey with oar, Long journey home recap shared. Your Eyes met Boy from tryst  Pulling on your  Singlets in locker  Room, fingers occupied  With straps, making adjustments. In Starting  Position,  Overhook his  Left arm, underhook His right, he has reverse, Move heads, feet for both under. King, Son, and  Herdsmen arm Themselves, goddess Hid them in darkness  For escape from city, Hermes led suitors' spirits. First Match in Tournament, Opponent dropped  Down, grabbed your leg, you  Fell back, swung aroun top, Crossfaced perpendicular. In Bottom  Position, Roll from left side Up onto shoulders, With knees bent, upside down  Sit, reverse roll direction. Ghosts Reached hell, Achilles', Agamemnon's Spirits de...
Read more

Book Eight

Lock Hands, tilt Right elbow  Toward mat, your left Leg between his, roll On right shoulder, take him To mat, left leg on his right. Nurse, Mother Greeted son, Heard about his Journey, presence of  Odysseus clearly Prophesied by a stranger. From  Neutral, Next practice  Partner circled, You dropped level, grabbed Behind his knees, on your  Right knee, aimed head above crotch. On Top, with Bottom flat On his stomach,  Lock his left leg with  Left knee, top of left foot  On right calf, lift legs toward butt.  Paired, Swineherd, Stranger reached  Palace; fed, king Begged scraps; Antinous, Furious, berated Odysseus, threw a stool. Head Butted, With shoulders Propelled forward, Pulled his knees towards you  Until he fell backwards, Kneeling, head between his legs. Chest On chest, Opponent On his back, lock His right leg between  Crotch, and back of right knee, Right heel controls his right leg. Queen  Asked to Meet stranger, Od...
Read more