#camaraderie
I will find the place
Where the weirdos go
To be among my people
The strange, the unappreciated
Too brilliant or too insufferable
To live in polite society
I will join them in the trash heap
O carelessly discarded treasures!
And be an unfit queen
Aug 22, 2024
Aug 22, 2024 at 9:56 AM UTC
We had a special play for the game against Highland
Park. It was called 36X. After some razzle-dazzle in
the backfield, Mike Gentry got the ball and ran 65 yards
for the winning touchdown. Frank Sewell was a power-
ful lineman--the center, actually. I played linebacker
on defense, and I was lucky, because I played right
behind right tackle, Ted Melinick, who wound up
getting a full football scholarship to KU (the University
of Kansas). My best friend, Ralph "Sandy" Sandmeyer,
half the size of Melinck, but the most tenacious lineman
on the team, was elected co-captain. I was the other one.
It matters not at what level you play. What matters are
the memories that stay with you for a lifetime--the snapshot
memories of special moments that flash through your
mind for the rest of your days. The camaraderie of your
teammates, particular plays--tackles, touchdown runs,
interceptions, even injuries you sustain--all form an
indelible montage. My favorite memory was the one
where, as a wide-receiver on offense, I went into the
flat to catch a pass, but was intercepted by Loyce Bailey.
I jumped on his back to tackle him, but he rode me like
a saddle for 40 yards. Loyce happened to be black, and
therefore lived in the black ghetto on the east side of
Topeka. He was also the best athlete in all of Topeka.
Bailey, like Melinick, got a full ride to KU to play foot-
ball. He was their starting saftey.
Several decades later, I saw Loyce again, this time at a
reunion. I reminisced with him about my futile attempt
to tackle him. He remembered the play, and we both
laughed loud and hard. We gave each other a big hug.
Another indelible memory.
Copyright 2020 Tod Howard Hawks
Apr 27, 2020
Apr 27, 2020 at 5:38 PM UTC
Last year
was the worst
loosing half our team
to a discrimination scandal
how could they do that?
how could that say that about those people?
how could they be those people?
how could they get expelled?
how could they sabotage our team?
By doing such STUPID things?
We lost
No surprise there
A losing streak
till the end of the season
Even losing the title of champion
held several years in a row
...
This year
new freshman
faces shining
as ours had been years past
showing us weary downtrodden sophmores
the reason we played in the first place
not the winning
not even the people on the team
...
But the sport
our sport
we just defeated our long time rivals this year
and things are looking good
Sep 12, 2018
Sep 12, 2018 at 10:30 PM UTC
Two is the number we share in years
And when I call, she always hears
Through secret codes and hiding places
And wading through this sea of faces
Two is the number we share in years
Together, we will shed no tears.
Jul 17, 2018
Jul 17, 2018 at 3:12 AM UTC
Your mixed spray of flowers lifted me at a time when spirits were low
Pastel beauteous petals extend out like a friend’s hands extend to know
Rosebud fragrance scent my office space. Once celestial Hands did form wee seed
Now, your hands place them in a vase as you saw first your friend in need
Pale gladiolas point blossoms out, flute-formed grace artistically spread
Such beauty to praise the Artists Hand, with you as gardener, your hand is led
Love is something we do, my friend, come from depths of inner heart
Of a friend who reaches out her hand says “I care” with flowers taking part
Let joy these bring be lasting beyond time when blossoms fall
Because thoughtfulness remains unblemished, giving of oneself is best of all
May 3, 2018
May 3, 2018 at 1:00 PM UTC
The bitter sting of winter's singing howl
Drives me to seek some deep and darkling place
Far from the blizzard's scorn, the wind's embrace,
Far from the beasts who bear its brunt to prowl
In search of prey. I'll clutch close to my cowl
And cloak, beneath which hides a younger face
Than most foresee. The forecast yields no trace
Of hope for safety 'pon the road. No foul,
My fellow traveler, don't fear from me.
I'll lay my knife down well before we meet,
Before we each choke down a share of ***
Or what would pass to warm camaraderie;
I know not where I've passed, to where I've come;
I simply beg a place to warm my feet.
Mar 21, 2018
Mar 21, 2018 at 8:47 AM UTC
Laban para sa bayan
Laban sa kalayaan,
Laban sa katarungan
Laban sa katapangan
Naririnig mo rin ba?
Ang mga alingawngaw
Ng mga tao't bansa,
Nais ng makalaya
Hanggang kailan mo kaya
Lumaban sa kanila?
Kalayaan na nais
Kailan ba makakamit?
Patuloy na lalaban
Para sa kalayaan,
Huwag maging gahaman
Upang walang alitan
Minamahal kong bansa
Ipaglalaban kita,
Anuman ang mangyari
Patuloy lang ang laban.
Mar 6, 2018
Mar 6, 2018 at 10:39 AM UTC
A camaraderie that was too hard to forget,
But too easy to vanish.
Be safe, my friend.
Feb 28, 2016
Feb 28, 2016 at 10:22 AM UTC
There were two
then another
one feared the new
solitude would bring
one
plus or minus
mathematical as always
is it not?
to those reverent
toward ships
outward faced
yet ported still
'tis asked
no matter the course
or how rough the sea
wherever currents lead
"remember me"
Jun 6, 2015
Jun 6, 2015 at 3:45 AM UTC
She is the wedge driven between them
She is the hollow distance within them
She is the force that drives them apart
She is a great sea that divides them
She is the thorn in their sides
She is the bullet that bursts through their flesh
She is the stake driven into their hearts
She is the salt in each of their wounds
She is the disease that rots them away
She is the deep ocean that drowns them both
She is the poison that brings agonizing death
She is the flame that devours them both
Out of the torment, what is seen?
One friend stands beside her
In love happy and healthy
As one can be
A scorched friendship
In flames of betrayal,
Oct 10, 2014
Oct 10, 2014 at 12:04 PM UTC