Book Eight (2 June 2023)

Game

Pressure

Built up with

Nemesis next

On football schedule,

Stamina monkey rolls, 

Oklahoma, gap block drills.



Zeus

Awoke,

Poseidon

Withdrew, Hektor,

Stirred by Apollo,

Led Trojans once again 

Against Achaians' black ships.



Tongue

Tied, who

Had tried to

Lure roommate 

From bench to soccer, 

Sold him on Sunday touch 

Football games as quarterback.



Paired

Up, both

Quarterbacks

Ran circle drill,

Open man, pocket

Presence, quick release, deep

Ball, anticipation drills.



Grim

View moved

Patroklos 

To rush back to

Achilles hoping

That he'd be able to 

Persuade him, drop his anger.



Touch

Players,

Grouped on quad,

Split off into 

Two teams, tongue tied, and 

Roommate together, side 

Heavily soccer weighted.



Coach 

Discussed

Penalties, 

Tripping, striking,

Kneeing, colliding 

With kicker, chop blocks, taunts,

Unnecessary roughness.



Line

Drawn, not

Visible,

Both sides clashed at

Ship's side, Hektor to 

Torch it, Aias to drive

Him back, those nearby struck down.



First

Huddle

Sorted out 

Field positions,

Tongue tied's roommate, school's 

Second-string quarterback, 

Obvious choice for their side.



Head

Of school 

Athletics

Endorsed practice

To public transfer 

Of rivalry during 

Intramural touch football.



Deep

Despair,

Patroklos

Begged Achilles 

To let him take up 

Arms, borrow his armour, 

Lead Myrmidons in battle.



Rules

Reviewed,

Blue and grey

Armbands tied- gift

From faculty wives-

Identified crowded

Pack in casual clothing.



Balls

Headed,

Passed, or shot,

Reactions sped,

Muscle memory 

Initiated smooth

Body coordination.



He

Allowed 

Patroklos

To drive Trojan

Fighters from ships, quench 

Flames, turn back, cautioned him

To not provoke Apollo.



School's 

News flagged 

Quarterback 

Talked strategy 

With teammates, back benched 

Quarterback listened to 

Workout partner from the side.



Lone

Runner

Set course pace

At marathons,

Fleet of foot, arms, swung

Backwards, propelled forward,

With iron thigh, calf muscles.



Bronze

Shielded

Patroklos,

Flames engulfed ship,

Achilles prayed to

Zeus, summoned Myrmidons,

Friend felled Trojans, quenched fire.



Prep

Weekend 

Groomed duo

Blended with peers,

Locked competitive

Eyes without hovering, 

Elder minders calling shots.



{18 stanzas/page} 










































































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