Tuesday 21 August 2012

jolly hockey sticks
















all huddled together to keep out the chill
the wind lashing against our very bones
called to arms by the mighty shrill
of our muscle bound gym mistress

'come on girls, it's just a little rain'
or sleet or snow or fog but really
hail stones were the worst
can feel them now pelting against
the back of my legs purple bruised
and all we had for cover
were these huge navy blue knickers
elasticated at the waist and legs

one friend even had a pocket in hers
where she used to keep her loose change
think we could have camped out in them

but there we were out in the mud
jolly hockey sticks at the ready
me center forward bullied off
one, two, three and away we'd go

tearing down that pitch we'd slip and slide
whacking that ball for all it was worth
the best was when I'd go in goal
at least I'd shin pads to cover from the cold

but after a game in that quagmire of a field
the heated steam that rose from us
and total lack of 'feel'
numb legs, numb cheeks and numb b....
was quite unreal ~
Happy Days

38 comments:

  1. haha...i like this... now that muscle bound gym mistress sounds quite determined...reminded me of the soccer players i often see, doing their training in pouring rain and cold but somehow they seem to love it...smiles

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    1. determined that she was - relentless even :)) heehe but I did enjoy it wish I could tear up that field now :) - Lib

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  2. Ah yes--field hockey in the muck-I remember it---evocative write for me---

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    1. haha you said it right 'in the muck' :) glad it brought back those 'happy times' x lib

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  3. Ha ha, I liked this but for all the wrong reasons. I hated hockey as did my mother, she fondly likes to recall her muscle bound gym mistress 'Whacking' the ball has hard as she could to my mother out on the wing, who promptly dodged and had to run miles after it :)
    Lovely poem, love the term Jolly hockey sticks too.

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    1. Oh Gawd I felt the thwack of that ball - I can well imagine your poor Mum would dodge that one :) yea mine was a bit like that, sent itfor miles but if you got a smack from that ball it didn't 'arf hurt - heehe 'happy days' eh!! - hgs Lib

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  4. You brought back some middle school memories for me with this--not any good, as I was AWFUL--but liked the poem lots!

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    1. I know some cringing stuff, eek!! sorry for taking you back there :) to those 'happy days' ;)

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  5. wow...you bring it to life...and you dont notice it as much when you are so pumped for the game and running on adrenaline....really cool capture...the pocket girl is a great touch to let us breath in it...

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    1. thanks so much Brian :) really pleased you dropped by and enjoyed this - always am - yes I can see those draws now, replete with that little pocket - ;) ~ great wishes in the new job ~ hgs Lib

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  6. I'm not surprised that heat pour out of you, this can be quite an intense sport; quite brutal really. I enjoyed the second stanza, particularly the hail...

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    1. :) that hail hurt like mad - yea can be so brutal gained a black eye once - ouch!!! boy was that sore - lib

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  7. Lib...the smile I'm wearing was much needed today! Fantastic immersion in a memory...wonderful :)

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    1. that really pleases me loads Tash :)) - warm hugs Lib x

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  8. Wow, this brings memories back to me...of those voluminous and unflattering gym suits we had to wear...and of my complete lack of enthusiasm for whatever sport we were having to participate in at the time... This was really fun...totally enjoyable!

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    1. thankyou so much - really glad you enjoyed :)

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  9. Yes, numbed everything after the game ....Enjoyed your fun share ~

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  10. Loved this. Must get out and do it no matter what kind of weather. I can picture that gym mistress. She was my homeroom teacher in high school and a real slave driver! Ugh.

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    1. Ohhh chills terrifying - she used to appear as if from nowhere through that grey morning fog - yikes!!! :))

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  11. Yeah screw the weather be the best one can be and go out there and give it a go, truly brought to life at your feed!

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    1. well yea after the stinging and numbing from the hailstones :)) heehe

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  12. Oh, Gawd..your knickers bring back memories of our "gym suits" a bilious green with embroidered yellow letters spelling out our name. The smell in those locker rooms is still w. me. And then during fire drills, we were caught on the stairwell, with the boys looking up at us in those ugly suits that made our legs look like skinned bats. Always lovely going down memory lane. I loved this Lib!

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    1. haha :) can just imagine those embroidered with your name and in yellow against the green, they really must have stood out - love it - 'legs like skinned bats' :)) ~ remember having to painstakingly embroider our names onto our gym bags, can see it now in red chain stitch, think my bag was green too ~ 'Happy Days' eh Jacqie x x ;)

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  13. Oh, middle school nightmares will haunt my dreams. Wonderful poem.

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  14. just a little rain, and the legs are getting purple...LOL!! i know people with that attitude.



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  15. Reminds me how tough and resilient those players are!! I remember my college room mate played. She was one rosy-cheeked gal after a game.

    Jolly good poem.

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    1. thanks Jannie, yes it would have those cheeks pinched and glowing - your friend sounds like she got stuck right in - :)) Lib

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  16. I have a niece who plays field hockey - ferociously!

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    1. :)) yikes!! yes some really put their heart and soul into this with such a passion - Lib

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