Game 24

​CHI 144      4OT      DET 147

#1
After a certain number of punches

A fighter gets
Heavy handed.

His fists
Stop springing out
Invisibly
On their own

But work their way up--
Rippling through his body
As if summoned from the ground below.

Earthquake strong
And earthquake slow.

Defense disintegrates and
Outmaneuvering settles for outlasting.

Resting

While the next punch comes.

Leaning away and
Hoping it misses.

But hoping for something
Doesn’t make it so.

And somebody
Has to
Win.

---

#2
Everyone knew him
In the town-squares
Of Eskişehir.

Ersan the Silent
At his most serious and artistic--
Performances in the plazas
Before groups of business people
And theater-goers.

Silly-Asova
At children's parties,
Which were many--
For his bag of tricks
Is quite suited
To their sensibilities.

Or sometimes just
"That creepy mime."

But Falling Man
Was how most of us knew him--
Named for his favorite trick.

He would step into the path
Of some innocent passer-by
And fall--

Exaggerated mime expressions
Of disbelief.
Exasperation.
Sadness.

Tumbling down
And sprawling backwards
As if charged by a
Bull.