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Page 19
Splitting the Double Team
Jesse Hegler
Knox College, Toronto, Canada
Jerusalem weeds grow up through
The cinder block bleachers of the once
Football field. I walk to almost the place
Where it happened at practice that day
And almost hear that sound again.
My fingers and cleats gripped the ground.
My taut legs waited, trembling.
The ball moved out of the corner of my eye
And I smashed between end and tackle.
The back with the ball lunged forward
And the sound struck me like a gong.
I knew only that swelling sound,
Drifted in the tunnel of growing sound.
At the end, I came back to a tiny voice
And Coach holding fingers in my face
Like a priest pronouncing a blessing.
He wanted me to count. The team stood
Silently hoping for a word. I counted.
Pentecost 1995
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