By Francis Marion
His suit soaks
in the sink,
its surface
red
with the blood
that flows
from kevlar,
lycra,
and leather.
In the corner,
a scrum
at high speed,
two by two
they pivot
until a boot
catches
the surface.
Down!
He goes,
out of
control,
into a matt
and the board,
an explosion
in the corner
of the
arena.
The crowd
Gasps!
and he’s
still,
a second
a minute
maybe more
everything
moves in slow
motion
forever.
Then he rolls
slowly,
over
to his belly
then up,
the ice turns
a dark crimson
where
he
kneels.
As he shakes
his head clear,
He gets
to his feet
and skates
through the
crowd
to the
exit.
Wounded
but living,
Are you ok?
and the medics
place him
atop of
their
gurney.
His suit
red with
the colors
of his team
and his clan
they wipe
his face
clean
with a
towel.
They poke,
and they prod
Mother watches
in the stands
her hands
covering
her face
while
she waits.
He who gets A’s
dreams of
music,
and
far aways
never fails
then falls
and
gets up.
Neither fearless
nor afraid
he knows now
no gain
without effort,
no progress
without
risk.
All in all
a good day
He says he’ll
still play.
Good sons
are God’s gift
to proud
parents.
Good sons are indeed God’s gift.
Sounds like rugby plays a role in your family as well.
Yes indeed.
For my son,
Speed skating actually. It’s where the kevlar, lycra, ice and arena come from. I call it a scrum in the corner because that is what it sort of turns into at times. And that’s usually when they bite it. 🙂
Anyways, when skaters fall you are supposed to maneuver yourself in a manner that your back takes the impact of the mats and the boards. But sometimes it’s your face that catches the mats and boards first, especially in close corners where there is no time to react. Even worse is going feet first which usually results in broken legs or ankles.
It’s hard to appreciate the speed these guys are moving at unless you are right there watching them but it is many times faster than a hockey player can move. Different equipment, different blades, different skating style. When they fall it is loud and dramatic. His mother almost strokes out every time it happens. My biggest fear is the kids getting slashed with their own or another kid’s blades. They are razor sharp and that is why the suits are made from kevlar these days. Ambulance attendants are on site for every meet as a result. At the upper, older levels it is exciting (and sometimes a little scary) to watch.
The first fall is not bad in this video. The US skater at the end of this is lucky he didn’t break his neck:
or hockey… 2 beautiful and intelligent daughters. A son could have been wonderful.
My daughter wants to play rugby for her school starting this spring. She is extremely competitive as well. She is in the speed swimming club and has been for years so she has a lot of physical strength and endurance. Far more than most girls her age. I think she’ll kick ass and take names. Mother is not very happy about it. As I’ve gotten older I’ve come to realise that is mum’s job. To worry and fret. It is dad’s job to push them to go further and take risks.
Very nice. Learned something new today. Thanks, FM.
Hmm-mmm, not at all certain what to call your latest offering; maybe an epigram or a Horatian ode or even a bit of iambic pentameter, but it certainly served the purpose of providing us with a change of pace from the usual postings here — what ever you chose to call it. Very creative, Mr Marion. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Sometimes it’s just good to change things up a bit.
Now.
Back to our regular scheduled programming…