(New) Book Three

Knees

Behind 

Starting line,

Palms on mat in 

Front, elbows against 

Sides, feet pointed back, butt

On heels, eyes fixed straight ahead.


Ship

Arrived 

In Pylos,

Athena coaxed

Telemachus, son

Of Nestor greeted guests,

Feast honouring Poseidon.


Boys

Paired made 

Snap judgements:

Who should straddle 

Whose legs first; was strong 

Enough to lift partner;

Would duck between other's legs.


Right

Knee on

Mat beside 

Opponent's right

Knee, left foot behind 

His feet, left arm around 

Waist, chin on back, elbow grasped.


Host's 

Questions 

Answered by 

Telemachus,

Nestor spoke of split 

Between Menelaus 

And Agamemnon at end.


At

Whistle,

Top wrestler's 

Hold tightened, right 

Hand grabbed bottom's right

Ankle, lifted it up,

Bottom struggled to break free.


Grab

Left wrist 

Around waist

With left hand, pull

Opponent's hand loose,

Keep control of the wrist,

Then bring left knee up to stand.


Fates

Pronounced:

Orestes

Avenged murder

Of Agamemnon 

By Aegisthus after

He seduced Clytemnestra.


Pile

Driven

Face down, your

Wrist handcuffed, yanked

Across to his right

Knee, other knee raised for 

Leverage, tries to roll you. 


Move

Right hand

From elbow 

Across face of 

Opponent to left

Arm, grab left ankle, lift 

It, push chest on top of back. 


Guest

Bedded,

Nestor's son,

Pisistratus,

Chosen to travel 

With Telemachus by

Carriage to Menelaus.


Tipped

Toward left

Side by top,

You army crawled

Your shoulders forward,

Left wrist clasped, finally

Released, his hand on ankle.


Bring

Right hand

Under his

Waist to left knee,

Left hand grabs his left

Ankle, on toes, pull leg 

Out, press using right shoulder.


They

Arrived 

In Sparta,

Horses stabled, 

Invited to feast,

Menelaus spoke of

His sufferings over years.


Coach

Whistled,

Wrestling stopped,

Move roles reversed,

Wrestlers pulled sweatshirts

Off, lifting soaked t-shirts,

Jockstrap waistbands from drawstrings.


Left

Knee blocks

Opponent's 

Left knee, left hand 

Pulls his left arm back,

Right arm tightens on his

Stomach, rolls shoulder to mat.


His

Likeness

To father

Recognised, tears

Fell, Odysseus'

Cleverness, courage foiled

Helen's unmasking trick horse.


At

Whistle,

Partner lurched

From knees to toes,

Your hand slipped from his

Chest, both hands grabbed his legs,

Face in butt, tackled to mat.

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