Thursday, May 30, 2013

Strong Faults

I find it ironic that

With me at five foot three
Never cracked one twenty
The skinny kid
The runt

You diagnose my greatest flaw as
Over-muscling the touch

I'm obscurely pleased to muscle anything at all

From "The Balance Of Nature And Modern Conditions Of Cultivation"
by George Abbe



Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Idle Purpose

I can't go long
or far
Can't launch a lunge that flings me
Half-way down the strip
Can't mount an irresistible attack
Deploy an obfuscating wall 
of blade
Impervious defense

Absent all these skills
What I have left is best described as
Loitering with intent
Puttering at danger's edge
Nosing about for openings
Ready to high tail it out but every bit as ready
To step in

True, this peripheral maneuvering lacks
Flash
Is totally deficient in
Dramatic flare
But is more suited to my repertoire 
My circumscribed, specific grace

The lesson here?
When counting blessings, always keep in mind
Every limitation can become a strength, if suitably defined