Awkward girl, hair too long,
always in her face. She is sitting out P.E.
again, too-long legs bunched up
beneath her, slumped against
the wall. She is telling stories
to herself: the blonde boy
will ask her out. On the field
he is lithe lightning,
broad strength, a perfect grace.
He is built of body,
as she is made of mind.
When they make her play,
she is fumbling,
foolish and afraid.
No matter how closely
she watches the ball,
she never swings.
(Baseball.)
That was a tough one for me…