Post Season Prayer

I say a prayer for the wives of Cleveland

and the children learning in the wake

the eyes of abuse focused

if only for a season of wins

breaks down from their loss and

take revenge

In a home just yards from my walls

I know that the dishes are being neglected

and the children are losing sleep

on the t.v. cheering can be heard

for the other team

but tonight, in his red eye

they are all laughing

and egging him on

clapping, waving their flags

pointing their large foam fingers

at the blood pumping in his neck

running up his face, down his back,

through his legs, feet

up his arms

down to his fingers, fist

down her nose

out her mouth

cupping it

in disbelief

that his team

let her down

again

1995, Ben Bisbee

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I don’t remember the specific assignment attached to this piece. But what I do remember is that in class, this poem was met with a wild mix of praise and anger by my peers. I remember writing it because I knew so many people who would get angry, violent over sports. I’d never experienced this kind of violence myself, but I had family members who would be distant, angry, or biting still hours after their team had lost a game. I knew to just keep your distance and it never got physical. But I also knew that for some people, other people, it did. And I wanted this poem to express that reality. Re-reading this 25 years later, I’m surprised by my restraint and structure. This is a weird mix of being both really blunt, but still strangely soft, regarding my style. I’m proud of this poem. I’m glad I found it again.