Stop Reaching
Ekphrastic poem. Another rejection. Not autobiographical.
I still have that basketball net
When she thinks everyone's sleeping
Not to play with, you understand
It makes me wonder about why mom cries in the bathroom at night
That impossibly high basketball net
"Just listen to your father, son. Please. Man up. Don't back chat...please. for me"
For the little runt, pipsqueak, I was
Because I can't yet reach it or throw high enough
When he erected it
Is going to reward me for crying
I remember thinking, believing
Who could easily lift me to the net
In the excitement of one day
No hand outs or punts by father
Landing a three pointer
"When you're taller, when you're a man, maybe you'll reach the net."
My father taught me a valuable lesson
When you earn it and don't step outside your station
About life and expectations
Spoils of success are better when you work for it
Concerning rewards and earnings
They say "son, be patient"
But really he was teaching me
But mom and dad tell me it's only a matter of time
About knowing your place
Stop reaching
Looking upwards
Keep myself small
Can feel intimidating
to cause arguments.
In the wrong context
Make things less likely
At least that's what I've always believed
to do things different.
There are highs too extreme
Just trying each day
In the wrong context
that might cause irritation.
I'm trying
about stuff
to do that more
Talk lesser
these days.
these days.
Talk less
to do that more
about stuff
I'm trying
that might cause irritation.
In the wrong context
Just trying each day
There are highs too extreme
to do things different.
At least that's what I've always believed
Make things less likely
In the wrong context
to cause arguments.
Can feel intimidating
Keep myself small
Looking upwards
Stop reaching
About knowing your place
But mom and dad tell me it's only a matter of time
But really he was teaching me
They say "son, be patient"
Concerning rewards and earnings
Spoils of success are better when you work for it
About life and expectations
When you earn it and don't step outside your station
My father taught me a valuable lesson
"When you're taller, when you're a man, maybe you'll reach the net."
Landing a three pointer
No hand outs or punts by father
In the excitement of one day
Who could easily lift me to the net
I remember thinking, believing
Is going to reward me for crying
When he erected it
Because I can't yet reach it or throw high enough
For the little runt, pipsqueak, I was
"Just listen to your father, son. Please. Man up. Don't back chat...please. for me"
That impossibly high basketball net
It makes me wonder about why mom cries in the bathroom at night
Not to play with, you understand
When she thinks everyone's sleeping
I still have that basketball net
*
Thanks for reading!
This was originally for Rattle Poetry's monthly ekphrastic challenge for August. I wasn't successful. I took the poem and realised I could deepen it by having a second version run in reverse order between each line of the original.
It is based on the image below. It's not live anymore so had to find a screenshot.
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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