Jessica
I am playing catch up on this week’s exercises, so I am completing two exercises in one poem. The below poem is intended to complete yesterday’s prompt of playing with form (in this case a pantoum) and today’s prompt of overhearing something from the television (in this case the Uruguay-Germany World Cup match).
Pantoum for Soccer
I love to watch a game
I barely understand. I listen for screams
of ardent fans, so I know how to reflect
their sorrow. I adopt a lingo
I barely understand. I listen for screams
and strings of curses. I listen to the constant hum of
their sorrow. I adopt a lingo
based on colored cards, body parts,
and strings of curses. I listen to the constant hum of
the horns, the swarm of angry bees. I adjust my posture
based on colored cards, body parts,
and the distance between the ball and the net. I ignore
the horns, the swarm of angry bees. I adjust my posture
every time I see them dance near a goal. I blink
and the distance between the ball and the net
collapses as I close my eyes.
