Book Seven (2 May 2023)

Benched

Defense 

Backpedaled,

Seized option play

To blitz when guards pulled, 

Stripped ball from quarterback,

Run ragged four afternoons.



From

Lookout,

Achilles 

Sent Patroklos 

To identify

Those returned, who was then

Pressured to persuade his friend.



Third

Former

Went over

Class notes, focused 

On lines discussed in 

Class, euphoric when those 

Passages made up midterm.



Days'

Practice 

Scrimmages

Unreported,

Headlines quarterback's 

Unbeatable record

Facing alumni weekend.



Wise

Nestor

Proposed that

Patroklos wear

Achilles' armour

Into battle to fool

Trojans that he'd rejoined fight. 



Greek 

Midterm, 

Graded on

Sliding scale, helped

Those without language 

Aptitude avoid cliff,

Enlarged top achievers pool.



School 

Soccer

Team improved

Record, losses

Became ties, then wins,

Co-captains shared spotlight,

Confident strides palpable.



Massed

Trojans

Dismounted

From horses, crossed

Wide ditch, swarmed beneath 

Wall protecting ships, 'til

Hektor threw stone which broke gates. 



Test

Results 

Posted on 

Column outside 

Classroom door the next 

Day, alphabetical 

Order, by student's last name.



Cross

Country 

Tournament

Runners spread out

Across starting line,

Course narrowed approaching 

First turn, leads bunched together.



Zeus. 

Looked off,

Poseidon,

Human likened,

Lifted Achaian 

Spirits, interacted

As they pressed against Trojans. 



Last

Names, store

Brands, first, or

Nicknames, offspring,

Fraternal- conferred-

Society column's

Entrails spread innuendo.  



Dorm 

Master

Introduced

Sunday, post lunch,

Touch football, open 

To all forms, played on quad

In front of dormitories.



Surge

Suctioned

Hektor's thoughts,

Poulydamas 

Drew attention back 

To accumulated 

Trojan losses on the sides.



Smoke

Billowed 

From metal 

Trash can, closet

Door scorched previous 

Week, alarms brought student 

Fire squad into action.



Games

Roster

Attracted 

Soccer players,

Cross country runners,

Refereed by masters 

From facing dormitories.



Sleep

Bribed, lulled 

Zeus, Hera

Lied, spellbound him

With Aphrodite's 

Zone, stone thrown spun Hektor,

Poseidon drove Achaians.



Class

Highest 

Achiever

Suspected, had

Opportunities,

Received praise- captain of

School squad extinguishing them.




{18 stanzas/page}






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