Winter – frozen ground
unyielding, compact
the game is fast paced
the ball comes to me and
I race away towards the line.
I’m about to pass on my outside
when from behind
I am the victim of a
smothering tackle.
hard impact
crunch
shattering contact
my body crashes to the hard earth
breath squeezed out
bones and flesh displaced
shock and pain
soft flesh is not made to absorb
such a hit.
The hospital says my collar bone will have to be screwed back in place.
Our soft bodies end up in the hard earth – from where we came.
C. Tim Taylor 2012