Poetry-Sports

Waves are crashing all around me, The sun is casting its yellow rays upon the island. I hear a yell but it is oh so distant: “Go! Go!” I turn my head to see a wall rapidly approaching. I thrash my arms and kick, But it seems too late for me. I push up onto the board and stand, Keeping my balance. The timing is perfect, I sail onward to the palms in the distance. I am flying. No, I am face down in the sand, Waves lapping at my feet. For a moment I think I am dead, But my board slithers up beside me. I smile and laugh. I did it. I surfed. Eddie Mansius, 13Charlotte, North Carolina

I curl my cold fingers Around the yellow Frisbee Coil my arm back Dip it low, flex my wrist, Release. It sails smoothly through the air Floats gently above my father’s head And then The wind carries it slowly Into his waiting hands He smiles and tosses it Back into the wind I am prepared My arms are open, ready As his were To grasp it, to hold it in my clutches But instead The wind takes it, Swoops it, low and high Suddenly I am snatching air, And the Frisbee lands Softly in the grass, Wet with mud I pick it up Bend low, Step forward, Let go. Dad leaps With a ballerina’s grace His hands clasp Around its plastic yellow body Our eyes lock He nods, I nod, A mental understanding Then it’s whizzing through the air A bright, lemon-colored streak against the violet sunset. I push off the ground My feet lift from the grass I reach for the sky, Palm open Instinctively My hands snap shut Like the pincers of a crab on the beach And suddenly it is there I am holding it Thud. My sneakers meet the ground And I am thrusting it into the air A triumph He smiles I smile The yellow disk Is in my hand We smile We nod Go home Now we are done here. Laura Dzubay, 11Bloomington, Indiana

The wheels Crunch over the pea gravel As sweat Crowds my tomato-red face. My legs are constantly moving Pumping with pure Adrenaline. A puddle Crammed with mud Stretches over the cement sidewalk. Consumed with laughter And joy I am too delirious To see the hazard. My body Is shot into the air And my arms Flail Like a baby pigeon Flying for the first time. My legs are Spattered With grime. My aerial adventure Concludes With a tragic Crash. Water Spurts out From under my Bruised body. Drops pitter-patter as they Connect with land. I sit there Soaked Absorbed with how I look What pity watchers must feel. But I am chortling Elated Even if briefly And even if disastrously ended. I had Done it. I had roller skated. Nicky Cannon, 12Dallas, Texas