[Marlo]
Henry Twisting’s swift demise
followed three healing years since
a global pandemic blitzed
each nation to traumatize
informed humans but surprised
the unwise and hoodwinked souls
loyal to those in key roles
who contradicted
scientific facts
guiding human acts
that would save lives
if all strived to abide
by wearing a mask
and congregating
in groups less than five
while keeping six feet
to speak one to the other.
“Why bother,” said some
while hundreds of thousand
lives horribly died.
It’s been twenty days
for the foggy haze to clear
Kevin’s nagging fears
of an unstable psyche
cursed by the master’s key, bound
to white uniforms
of some caretakers who were
fakers of concern.
To continue leisures new
Kevin pursued fresh groomed ice
as a nice hobby
twice each week in the late fall
and all through winter
to deter boredom with fun
sliding heavy granite stones
thrown twice from the hack
from each of a team of four
to gain the team’s score.
Curling, hurling rocks on ice
with sweepers guiding the shot,
is hot excitement
fermented in cold weather
with sweet libations
to warm the cockles of hearts
toasting hearty throws with cheer.
[Kevin]
Hi, Russell, you’re here
early. Scoping the quirky
lane three’s crappy curl?
[Russell]
I’m to groom the ice.
It would be nice if you nipped
for your grateful skip.
[Kevin]
No worries, be my pleasure,
but you would do it better.
[Russell]
The appropriate setting of the blades
are locked-in to aid the depth
to shave the pebbles’ tips uniformly.
The weight of the nipper does the rest.
Your only test is to push in a straight line
and clean up the residue snow left behind.
[Marlo]
This small curling club
has a small pub and three lanes
to pebble and plane.
Every member volunteers
to clear out chores cheerfully
to maintain smooth play
and delay clubhouse decay
with timely upkeep.
Being true to my nature
I offer the following
picture for your gaze
to raise your keen consciousness
to resist errors
and minute misconceptions
of bland communications.
[ Andy Russell, Kevin’s Skip]
Your guards were awesome tonight.
I didn’t need to fight in the last end.
[Kevin]
Yea, but you read the curls well
and Jan’s stones never fell short
of tapping the guards
into the house to douse hope
for them to control
and own the house to score points.
Your skill never disappoints.
[Russell]
We buy the drinks
so to the bar we’ll go
to show our appreciation
for their strong competition.
[Kevin]
Bourbon and ginger
and a Heineken for me
to drink socially
and guarantee harmony
to better one’s steadfast self
as I slide through slick,
slippery competition
to gain full control
of unsure, insecure slides
with teflon souls, adding risk
to balancing pride
and protecting one’s own hide
in a concrete test.
[Marlo]
Kevin will reach the table,
behind sheet three, before Kate,
the other team’s Lead,
who greatly intrigued Kevin
when she flipped her coin.
The coin toss, if lost, yields choice
of the ‘hammer’ or which stones
the Leads choose to use.
Skips mostly want the hammer
so Leads don’t stammer:
“The deer, I’ll take the hammer.”
Kate’s coin-toss disconcerted.
[Russell]
Now that we are all here
hoist your glass for our classic toast:
Good beer and cheer, good curling to all.
[Marlo]
A fine game to tame winter
with fellowship and skillful,
fine entertainment
to equip the soul with strong
encouragement’s song
to be bold and hold your weight
when you skate on icy lanes.
Kevin knows he should
be good at small talk but his
ghosts from a sad past
balk at feigning cheerfulness
to express idle chit-chat.
[Kevin]
How did you come by your coin?
A gift to lift your spirit?
[Kate]
I bought it on eBay a few days ago.
It’s an odd coin, I know,
but it grows on you.
Needing something to flip
I was quick to see it
as something I couldn’t spend.
Perfect. And it feels good in your hand.
[Kevin]
I’ve seen an array
of coins displayed front and back
linearly stacked
as a cascade of pictures
to depict an explicit
journey to restrict
amplification of harm
with commonsense charm.
Of the three coins so pictured,
your’s was centered perfectly.
[Kate]
No kidding!
There were two being sold.
I was told of another
that won’t be bartered.
[Kevin]
That’s certainly true.
It’s never, ever for sale
to sad souls wanting
to possess its elegance.
Circumstance dictates a gift.
[Kate]
How do you know so much?