by Sihyun, 13
San Ramon, California
Surrounded, pushed along,
the player dribbles the ball,
taps lightly with strength
playing the ball as he would a piano
and sprints between the guards,
with one kick the ball flies,
falls a little to the left,
a flat note picked up
by the forward who jumps
for a header,
shoots for the goal,
ball flying over the players’ heads,
tension crescendoes,
the orchestra pauses
as the goalie leaps up,
arms stretched out,
a breath too early,
the ball arrives a second later,
bounces, staccato, into the corner
finally finishing its flight.
Written in response to "Fast Break" by Edward Hirsch