On the Field.

About fifty children stiring dust,
Running.
Shouting.
Screaming after a ball.

Little legs swinging,
Hoping to touch a flying ball.
One throws his right leg;
The ball walks past him, his feet run after it.
Another takes the ball, runs away with it
To a place he can freely hit it.
Soon he is surrounded by many legs
Like ants who chance on sugar.
He hits the ball and runs after it
To have a second hit but
Someone cuts him from behind.

The girls, amidst the running boys,
Interrupting their game with their cries,
"Oh...let me play some".
The ball leaves them to the side of the field
Where one boy is seated waiting
For the ball to come to him.
He takes the ball to the pole
Where the keeper is too small for his post.
He fixes the ball for a strike,
Too late,
Supporters and opposers attack him.
The leg that hits the ball sends it
High into the sky, all eyes follow.
Before it hits the ground,
The bell rings.
PE is over.

I will remember this with a smile,
Many years later.

28th February, 2016