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,

Odysseus 

Deferred until night,

Fat beggar challenged him

To fight, jaw broken, dragged out.

You

Scrambled,

Weight on chest,

Pivoted left,

Left arm around his 

Neck, right under his knees,

Joined into cradle for pin. 

Stand,

Knees bent,

On circle,

Faced out, hands out, 

Shuffle around it, 

Feet no closer than three 

Inches, never crossed, repeat.

Queen 

Dazzled,

Presents piled,

Slave girl taunted,

Eurymachus jeered,

Odysseus enraged

Them, Telemachus sought peace.

In 

Locker

Room, tight group 

Huddled over

Illegal moves: junk

Groping distractions; oil

Checks; opportune tea bagging. 

On

Stomach,

Elbows on 

Mat, crawl forward,

Using just forearms,

Dragging feet, legs behind,

Cross mat, turn around, repeat.

Arms

Secured

In storeroom,

Light suffused space,

Slave girl mocked beggar

From whom Penelope 

Heard lies, tortured by his truths.

Dares

Murmured 

By bracket 

Stars, heavyweight,

With record losses,

Blustered neutral takedown,

Pin through submission oil check.

Stand,

Knees bent,

Feet spread, squat

Down until hands

Hit mat, roll forward 

On neck with head tucked to

Chin, end, seated, hands wrap knees. 

Nurse 

Washed feet,

Recognised 

Odysseus' 

Scar, ordered to keep 

Revelation silent,

Offered to rate female slaves.

In 

Shower 

By himself 

Facing tiles, when 

He turned, erection 

Obvious on wrestler 

You'd pinned, his eyes meeting yours.