Detonation


from the ABC set Carpet Bombing and other poems

He soars...
Rising rhythmically from the court floor
Propelled by flesh and plastic.
Like Phoebus, his torso curves
Expectant dawn to blazing Midday
He soars...

From behind this arching body
A lithe languid arm arcs
Backward
Slowly, like Achilles scarred shard,
Stretching for his spear
This weapon, though no mere mesh
Of wood and flint
But a power massing
In every military sinew
From every nerve-end;
From every
Nerveless end
Surging, merging united
At the shoulder
Now charging, hurtling
Swiftly through bicep, onto forearm
And finally into
Fist

A low thud understates that
Graceful galvanization of force
The ball bewildered
Dizzy with dilemma
Dances and flips in a frenzy
As he once did thrown ragdoll-like
Planting rice in a field.
Surprisingly he smiles seeing
The opposition spread-eagled
Slapping at shadows.
My point.

Showering, later,
An afterthought nearly unbalanced his
Careful stance
"They call that manoeuvre
A spike".
He reflected
Soaping his tapered stump

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