"netball" poems
So I hid it
Took it like a written confession and
swallowed it
Decades of genders, females and
males screaming, as I melted down
the word on my tongue they had fought to keep,
that they had killed for and won.
As I joined a flock of sheep who wouldn't
accept a goat
Who didn't want to listen when I wrote down
that I believed in the allegedly frown-worthy
opinion that equality should exist.
That it should be taught right from the yolk
of existence.
That it's regulation requires persistence.
They told me that prejudice was a myth
Ironic, they also told me I shouldn't exist
Told me I was lesbian, like it was an
insult, when I decided to stage a revolt and
mark the popular girl in netball
and win.
self high five
Oh dear, what a schoolgirl sin to
perpetrate.
I was taught to take hate by the masses who
yelled that
the classes of acceptance
were unnecessary
Popular girl: small correction, although
I cannot say you personally give me
a feminine ******** I'm bisexual, get it right.
Also examine the fact that you thought I'd only fight
because I wanted you.
When in fact I both loathe and pity you, you
do not understand your worth, and you don't
give proper respect to the earth of your
elders.
Who have handed down shoulder to shoulder
something different from the everyday pain.
They've handed down the hope that their strivings
were not vain, and one day this war will
cease.
The smoke of a pen, not
a gun, calling
peace.
So, I am a feminist and I call for release.
Nov 28, 2014
Nov 28, 2014 at 9:57 AM UTC
We meet by the lockers
at break
I'm still amazed
that this school
has Cheerleaders
that basketball
not rounders & netball
is the sport played
that we study
the Cold War
' Of Mice & Men'
& the War in Vietnam
that we have 'Hitzenfrei' days
that our German teacher
always forgives our mistakes
that boys & girls
hang out together
that we put on musicals
I've never heard of
That we celebrate the fall of the Wall
that we take school trips
to Concentration Camps
that there's no uniform
that the teachers
rarely explain anything
that the word ' rubber'
doesn't mean ' eraser'
here but something else
that there are stereotypes
like 'nerd' & ' prom queen'
that we welcome grafitti
that we believe in Love
above any kind of Study
that we have the freedom
to pick & choose our failiures
without being sent
to the Principal's office
that we read Kerouac
Carl Sandburg & Ginsberg
that nearly everyone
has lived in at least
two or three
different countries
that we rarely fight
that my crush
plays trumpet
in a ska band
that we go
to the nearby Lakes
on weekends
& the English language cinema
on Tuesdays
that we celebrate Halloween
bit by bit I nearly forget
my All Girls school days
in soggy Britain
where I had no friends
where we sang hymns
every single morning
where we didn't practice
the Love we preached
where our future
was crumbling old Oxbridge
where we had a coat of arms
where we had houses
named after the merchant ships
of our Founder from the 1600ds
where we didn't dream
of becoming Presidents
or Astronauts but Academics
forever lost in musty books
the flower of our youth, wasted
*Hitzenfrei days were days in summer when we were let off school because it was too hot.
Wall - Berlin Wall
Jul 3, 2015
Jul 3, 2015 at 1:03 PM UTC
I grew up around men
I grew up wanting to be one of them
That in their love and admiration
I'd find affirmation
I grew up with big brothers and cousins
Who's approval I'd seek
Don't think "just cause I'm a girl"
that I'm weak
I'll climb that tree with you
I'll go one branch higher
Whilst you try to put me down
I remember being left out whilst
The boys were on adventures
Because I was "little"
But really cause I was a "girl"
Why can't I go and play football?
Go fish in the crab pool?
Be split into gender roles in p.e in school?
I don't even have ****
I'm terrible at gymnastics
I hate netball
Forcing me to stand still
Whilst the Guys can dribble their way forward to success playing basketball.
Equal rights?
You must think I'm a fool.
I grew up with a resentment towards girls
I grew up disliking myself
Having to be the smartest and wittiest
The kindest and prettiest
When my brother said
you have "queen bee syndrome"
It hit home
Cause I grew up with a love for women
The comfort they bring
But a dislike that I felt reliant on them
Often the ones that would listen
It's tiring to constantly feel like
you're in competition
That for me their strength
seems to threaten
When really it should be inspiration...
So I grow now with a vision
That equality will be achieved
Bit by bit and I'll start with me,
My own mentality
And I don't believe
That put downs are necessary
No hate, no proclamations
Of unshifting patriarchy
This will be done.
If I ever have children
They will each get every opportunity
To be what it is they want to be
I will see to that personally
Cause all these boundaries
just deny possibility
Just think of the world it could be
Cause what lies between your legs
Does NOT determine ability
Mar 29, 2015
Mar 29, 2015 at 11:09 PM UTC
She is a girl
She has two sisters, a dog
And a pair of worn-out headphones in her pocket
She is fifteen
She plays violin in the school orchestra
And sings duets in the sun
She is left-handed
She’s also pansexual
(Just thought you should know)
<><><>
She is a girl
(A different girl, mind you)
She has bright hair and dark eyes
And a sky of freckles spanning her body
She is a netball player
She listens to everything that’s said
And laughs at everything in response
She is an Aquarius
Her girlfriend is an Virgo
(Is this what they call diversity?)
<><><>
He is a boy
He is on the males’ baseball team
And recites prophetical speeches in the dugout
He is an early riser
He likes old-fashioned comedy movies
And his favourite colour is either orange or black
He is graduating next year
He’ll finally get to ask his school’s star pitcher to prom
(Finally is the right word)
<><><>
‘She’ is a boy
(A different boy, mind you)
‘She’ lives in the countryside
And travels 2 hours to campus each morning
‘She’ is a realist
‘She’ studies human relations
And has wanted to visit Rome since 'she' was eight
‘She’ is a part-time barista
‘She’ prefers the pronoun ‘he’
(No big deal if you forget though)
<><><>
They are people
They have people they love
And people who love them
They are people
They may have changed to you
And yet they haven’t changed to themselves
They are people
They are still people
<><><>
(Just thought you should know)
<><><>
Nov 4, 2016
Nov 4, 2016 at 9:33 AM UTC
After a long boring
science lesson
I had my sandwiches
in the lunch room
then went out
on the playing field
to find Yiska
hey Benny
Goldfinch said
how about a game of footie?
no I can't
I'm meeting someone
o not the girl again
leave girls to the soft heads
come play football
he said
but I walked on
and looked for her
and then saw her
with some other girl
plump girl with dark hair
and a green bow in it
I stood and waited
for her to go
Yiska saw me
and the other girl went off
giving me the cool stare
sorry just chatting to Mary
she's having problems
what problems?
I asked
girly problems
Yiska said
o right
I said
well where shall we go?
let's go to London
and see the sights
she said smiling
I mean now
here on the playing field
I said
up near the fence and woods
she said
so we walked up
by the fence
passed groups of girls
sitting and chatting and laughing
and the sound of boys
playing football way back
how was your morning?
she asked as we sat
on the grass by the fence
boring as hell
something about gases
and air or something
I said
and you?
netball then maths
then geography
where I nearly fell asleep
she said
did you miss me this morning
when I wasn't by your bus waiting?
yes I thought you
might be off ill
I said eyeing her eyes
no I was in the gym
getting ready for netball practice
yes I saw the short skirt
she smiled
you would
yes guess I would
wish we were at my place
she said
having lunch and such
but my moaning mother's home
and my big brother
comes home some lunch times
and I try and avoid him
why's that?
she looked at me intently
he tries it on
tries what on?
can't say but I prefer
not to be there alone
with him and he'd
tell Mum if he
saw us alone together there
she touched my leg with a hand
say nothing to anyone
why would I?
just in case promise?
of course my lips are sealed
I said
she leaned forward
and kissed my lips
then moved away
then we talked about other things
her mother's moans
and migraines
and depression
and I talked of my interest
in cars and birds
(feathered kind)
the school bell rang
and we got up to go
back to class and lessons
I wanted to kiss her
one more time
but with others there
I didn't dare.
Oct 20, 2015
Oct 20, 2015 at 2:53 AM UTC
i love how after 70cl of whiskey my
metabolism is up and running -
i know, egoistical self-indulgent crap,
but it works! i get to say **** you
to 99 people and say: come on in
to 1 - but that doesn't even
matter, given the circumstance
of the 1 being a schizophrenic;
but hey! i grew a beard
after all, being post-25 years of age,
so a fully grow Amazon on my cheeks
and chin, a welcome reminder of:
the Aztecs played football too,
but it was more like
****** of San Francisco mixed
with golf mixed with netball
mixed with the ailing N.H.S.
chanting: god save our bed-shitting queen,
god save our precious artefacts from
Hindustan. and Gobi the cabby from
new Delhi -
god save our... a round of pints for the lot
of us! way-hey! charging into crusades with
a jaguar export from Germany under
the slogan: Vein Diesel biceps-flexed:
too fast, and two of each:
that'll be a pistachio - say it as meaning
lime green, go on - oi! ******
who's that Russian hooligan with pistaccio?!
one keg-pouch over here must have minded
the safety-belt limit
prior to a heart-attack and you're giving me
all Abba lip-sarge and surging...
gimme gimme a man at half time...
two pints and a burger in and i'll be
juicing up a saxophone for a crescendo better than
this one...
well... it was lovely to meet you, send my
best regards to your mother, a sincerely;
i swear to god, when i'm done, the only
person you'll be phoning will be your mother.
Jun 20, 2016
Jun 20, 2016 at 9:01 PM UTC
Mr Finn wrote
on the blackboard
about 1066.
I sat watching
what he wrote
in his neat hand.
The Battle of Hastings
was underlined
in red chalk.
I'd been
to Hastings once
with my grandparents
sat on the beach
with bucket and *****
and ice cream
the hot
orange sun
in the sky.
King Harold
got an arrow
in his eye
the teacher
had written.
I tried to imagine that
bad enough getting
a fly in the eye
or piece of grit
but an arrow
O ****
I mused.
William the Conqueror
won the battle
brought the Normans
with him I read.
Dennis next to me
whispered there are
some Normans
up our street
tough buggers
he said.
One of the sisters
is on the game
my mother said
Dennis informed.
I tried to guess
the game
that sister played
but gave up
maybe rounders
or netball
I mused.
The teacher stood
by the blackboard
and talked
about the battle
the weapons used
the numbers killed
and what
happened after.
Dennis talked on
in an undertone
of the Norman mother
slept apparently
with her husband's
brother.
Apr 9, 2017
Apr 9, 2017 at 10:04 AM UTC
I started school in nineteen hundred and typing error. But we were so poor growing up we had to share clothes, so I could only go to school every other day on account of being a twin. PE was a little embarrassing as I had a twin sister. It wasn't so much playing rugby in a netball skirt, no – my problem was trying to iron the pleats back in afterwards.
At 6 years old I was cast in my infant schools nativity play as 3rd reserve palm tree, in a play with no palm trees in it. When I complained to the teacher she told me to stop moaning and remember what jesus taught us.
“Can I be that?” I asked
“What?” she said
“You said jesus had a tortoise, can I be the tortoise?”
At 14 years old I was given a major role in my upper schools annual PTA play. We were doing Romeo and Juliet and I was cast as – the balcony. However on the night of the performance, unlike in rehearsals, the girl playing Juliet wore stiletto heels. So when she stepped onto the balcony (me) it yelped and rolled over. She went base over apex knocking over Romeo and landed spread-eagled on the floor that revealed her underwear to the whole audience. I am sure I speak for every parent, teacher and pupil in that hall when I say that I can never look at My Little Pony in the same way ever again. She never spoke to me again – like it was my fault!
(Oct 2020)
May 20, 2025
May 20, 2025 at 6:48 AM UTC
Run, they said to me
I have always been told that life is like a race and in my young mind I believed it was a race against everyone around me, but as I grow up and mature slowly into the person I am meant to be, I realise the only person I am running against is myself and the one person really routing for me to win is my heavenly father ( God ).
I also think we run in different places, because we face different challenges and we are given different blessings or should I say gifts. Some may run on a track field and others may run on a road full of potholes, but I would like to believe I run around the netball court and I have reasons for that, first being the fact that I set goals and when I reach them I set more, I guess you could say I don't believe in finish lines... there's always place for improvement and secondly I believe in life after death and after this life of flesh I believe I'll be an angel in heaven that just keeps on running.
Run, I say to myself
RUN!
Oct 8, 2016
Oct 8, 2016 at 2:35 PM UTC
The world is round and I can't speak
I've never been good at handling round things.
Let me school you about netball
My body never knew how to stop midmotion.
I knew to jump for my wild goals and dreams.
But never how to stop right in the nick of time
To not intimidate this man next to this quiet girl.
Tried Volleyball.Faithfully
A whole year
I never got it right,clench your fists to hit hard,open your palms for a low hit.
I was always too eager or too hesitant to take my shot
Smooth operation a grace I hope life will grant someday
You'd think basketball would be my fit
A weird girl but gutsy too
A day in and I quit
I couldn't be tricky
One look into my basket eyes and you're in my world
The world's still round
And I don't speak
Words move full circle and catch up with you
I'd rather keep them chasing...
Dec 29, 2017
Dec 29, 2017 at 5:07 PM UTC
Quinn
was a twin
his sister went
to St Clare's
a school for girls
who wanted
to be nun
when she was 21.
But he came to us
a school for boys
and girls
and to my class.
He was a tall
plump kid
with dark
thinning hair.
He sat
next to Brody
who smelt
of bubblegum
and Brylcreem.
What's your sister
look like?
I said.
She's like me
without the dark
thinning hair
he said.
How comes
she went
to an all
girls' school
and not here
with you?
I said.
My parents thought
an all girls' school
might be better.
They're
probably right
I said
can't trust
boys here.
He nodded
guess so.
Why does
she want
to be a nun?
I said.
She always has
since she was 6
and saw our aunt
who's a nun.
I see
I said
what about you?
you want to be
nun too?
No I thought
about being
a priest
though
he said
seriously.
So is that why
you don't come
to assembly
with the rest of us
you're
a Roman Catholic?
I said.
He nodded
yes all
my family are
but the Roman
Catholic school
is too far away
for me to go.
I see
I said.
I showed him
the girl I liked
up on
the sports field
who was
playing netball
with her class.
She was wearing
a short green skirt
and yellow top
and now and then
as she jumped up
a sight of green
underwear.
Quinn looked
away shy.
I stood
and gave
a steady stare.
Jun 26, 2017
Jun 26, 2017 at 3:57 AM UTC
Underhill stood
in line with you
in the boys'
changing room
waiting to be picked
for the football team.
The PE teacher
walked the line
eyeing each boy in turn
picking whichever boys
he wanted
for the team
as he went.
He walked
past me
without even
looking at me.
He picked Underhill
who stood at the end
hands behind his back
eyes forward
staring at
the opposite wall.
You Underhill
can be centre-forward
the PE prat said
walking back
up the line
to select the last
few members.
He passed me again
and chose Jupp
as left back
and Rolland
as goalie.
Those of us
who had not
been chosen
stood in line
looking around.
You Brown and Tope
can be lines-boys
the rest of you
will have to watch.
The PE prat
walked off
and his team
followed him out
onto the field.
We no bodies
walked behind
the team
and stood
on the sidelines
waiting to watch
the match against
another school.
I was glad
I wasn't chosen.
I preferred
to watch
or look over
to the girls
playing netball
in the playground
seeing if any girl
I knew was there
jumping
and reaching high
their bodies beauties
in motion.
Underhill scored a goal
and a cheer went up
he jumping around
like a big girl.
But I turned away
and watched
the real girls
with their
bouncing bodies
and hair and curls.
Jun 27, 2017
Jun 27, 2017 at 3:20 AM UTC