Third Place

("Third place" in the sense coined by sociologist Ray Oldenberg to refer to spaces--not work, not home--where we connect with others, known and unknown, bond over shared interests and forge community.)

Lending patient sympathy to woes of

Injury

Indignities of age

(youth and geezerhood—each have their tribulations)

Helping to untangle cords,

Straighten a blade

Test a bad connection

Lend a pair of socks

Finding one good thing

To compliment

Amongst the countless blunders

In our bout

Overlooking flares of peevishness

Respecting fallibility, recognizing it as

Common currency

Of practice

This is what we do, each of us for each

As clubmates, teammates, sometimes even friends

People find their families where they can

Chance-met assemblages of

Common cause

At home, at work, at play

The ferrous kinship of the blade,

Formed in the salle, is strangest yet

But forged in kindness

Even-tempered, strong, forgiving of our flaws