Poetry-Speak Football--By Gerald A. McBreen and Brendan McBreen--United States

OCTOBER'S FIFTH SPECIAL FEATURE
           COLLABORATIVE POEM

Poetry-Speak Football

By Gerald A. McBreen and Brendan McBreen

Are you ready for some football-speak poetry?

I’m meaning mixing definitions.  Hitting the goal post head on without a

helmet.  Producing a kind of poetic license interpretation.  The cracked egg after affect would look like this.

Quarterback sneak:  Someone who reads at an open mic first and then slips

away without hearing anyone else.

False start:  A detailed explanation of the poem about to be read.

Two-minute warning:  A contest judge sitting in the front row, peeking at his

watch in full view of the poet.

Touch back:  When someone uses a line from your poem and gives you

credit.

Blocking:  Talking in a loud voice while someone else is reading.

Bench warmer:  A poet who shows up but doesn’t read at an open mic.

Instant replay:  Your poem is so well received you are asked to read it again.

Fumble:  Reciting without notes and forgetting the lines.

Touchdown:  When you get a chapbook published.

Forward pass:  Using poetry readings as a dating service.

Pass interference:  When someone’s cell phone goes off during a reading.

Illegal motion:  See quarterback sneak.

Extra point:  What you receive when you are asked to be a featured reader.

(First published in Northern Stars in 2012)