Anthology project
By Karsten Portell
Introduction
Where I'm from
I am from the Arch,
From the hockey pucks and baseballs
I am from the hills in the backwoods
I am from the hawthorn, the flowering dogwood
I am from traveling and bluish green eyes
From the Behrens and Portell's and competitive ones
I am from the secret keepers and sometimes loud mouths
From grades are your best friend and be that someone
I am from the lack of religion but still believe
I'm from the "show me state" and Portell's, toffee and sweet treats
From the time my papa served our country, the time my mom visited Oakland, California
And the trips to the beach
I am from the shelves with the books full of memories
wise spender (narrative)
Love of the game(sonnet)
You are my everything sun up and down
Playing center is my forte
I skate in and out of town.
My favorite team is the Stl. Blues
I live in Dallas and watch the stars on tv
When they play each other it is hard to choose
I hope this will one day be me.
I am committed with time and skill
My sticks are Bauer, my skates are too
I run to practice and do the drill
There is nothing I will not do.
Hockey is what sets me free,
It lets me, be me.
Ode peom
You are there for me every day
My partner in crime when I get a penalty
My best friend when I score
The way the carbon fiber glistens like the sea
You were there for me when the championship was ours
Even the rough losses
I take good care of you by taping you all up
As you lay in my gloves when shooting
You go through the pain of hitting the puck
You have saved the day when in the tightest situations
I occasionally hit you against the boards through the heated moments
But you have never failed me
As you continue your task as the seasons rolls on
Ode to my hockey stick.
Structure poem
The crowd shouts with anxiousness. Aiming my shot the best I can
I shoot it. As the ref blows his whistle and gives the signal there it is
In the back of the net.
Reflection
Most of my free time doing daily. The endless hours of practice and games are my true passion. Focusing on fine tuning my skill with the top of the line equipment is truly 70% of my life.