(New) Book Two

Feet

Spread, turned

Out; knees bent, 

Back hunched; arms held

Against sides; hands kept

Between knees, centered low;

Eyes focused on opponent.


As

Mentes,

Athena 

Surveyed scene, spoke

With Telemachus,

Served a meal, prophesied 

Return of Odysseus.


Old

Wrestlers 

Spread across 

The room by weight

Class, lowest in front,

New taking spots in back,

Coach looking at paperwork.


Move:

Shuffle 

With short steps

Side to side; rock,

With right foot forward,

Left foot kept in place, weight

Shifted quickly, forward, back.


Boy

Cried in

Frustration 

During public 

Speech, suitors have held

Household hostage, asking 

Penelope to make choice.


Spring 

Rankings

Resisted 

Tugs from Summer 

Growth spurts, weight limits 

Harder to keep, options 

To move up faced challengers.


Reach

Across,

Circling your 

Opponent, grab

The back of his neck,

Tap his head, when he tries,

Swat his arms, or hands away.


Blame 

Mother

For tricking 

Us, Antenus

Replied, Laertes'

Shroud unfinished: she wove

Each day, unraveled each night.


Some

Wrestlers 

Fixated

On their weight, checked

It before practice,

Again after showers,

Expressions mirrored results.


Drop

Level 

Lowering 

Hips, bend knees, lock

Eyes on opponent's 

Moves, extend left leg back,

While tilting right leg forward.


Zeus

Launched two

Eagles which 

Halitherses

Prophesized meant the

Imminent return of 

A disguised Odysseus.


Team

Warmed up 

With stretches,

Push-ups, sit-ups,

Sped up jumping jacks,

Squats, sweat breaking out on

Foreheads in humid mat room.


Use

Hands to

Lock forearm

Of opponent,

Pivot on left foot,

Back into him, right knee

On mat, pull his shoulder down.


Son

Announced

Decision:

Requested ship

With crew to learn news

Of father; if dead, would

Build tomb; give mother husband.


Coach,

Wrestler

In neutral

Position, coach 

Bent to penetrate,

Stayed low, touched mat, used hands

To pass between wrestler's legs.


Grab

Waist of

Opponent,

Straddle his legs,

Bend knees, arch back, lift

Him while turning around,

Drop to knee maintaining hold.


Ship

Procured,

Provisioned

With jars of wine,

Sacks of grain; goddess

Found crew of volunteers,

Launched Telemachus at night.


Coach 

Said: 'Pair

Up, one take

Bottom, one on

Top, practice the move,

Then switch your positions 

To run through move second time.'





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