ACTION STILL
—after a football action photo
in the St. Paul Pioneer Press

T. Williamson floats on the stadium air,
his arms high extended, his fingers aflare.
The NFL football hangs plump as a peach
just ripe for the plucking and well within reach.
 
Poteat, the defender, is fully laid out
a foot off the turf, he’s thinking (no doubt):
“I’ve got a good grip on T. Williamson’s knee
but, damn, that’s the goal line ablur under me.”
 
And in the same photo, a sideline tableau:            
Two fans mouthing “Yes” and one mouthing “No;”
three cheerleaders, breasts in a heaving upswing;
the ref in position to judge the whole thing.
 
Contemporary Rhyme Vol. 4, No. 4, Fall 2007

THE OCCASIONAL FIRE

POEMS
Life Scroll
Spirit Wings
Death in the Family
Flight Chief
Legacy
Honeymoon Photo, October, 1939
49 Chevy
The Seed of Me
Land of Rest
On Allison's Leaving
Telecom's Bequest
Starbucks, Tuesday, 3:36 p.m.
Action Still
Vital Meaning
Fools

HYMNS
God will not let us go
The rising sun blazed out of night
Light! Light! A shattering light
Worship the Lord
As a doe

ABOUT MARK RHOADS