at the world curling championship

april 9th at half-past noon
i found my seat in the Tsongas Arena
and waited to be impressed by men with brooms

my expectations were low
but my heart knew
something special could happen

a half-dozen canadian men
in red jackets
the same number of scots
in blue jackets
marched out in quiet jubilation

hope oozing off them
so clearly that I could not be bemused

for almost three hours
they pushed stones down a narrow strip of ice
knocking eachother out
knocking eachother in
and keeping close score

on the very last stone
Scotland won.

The 6 scots jumped up and down
danced, screamed, and found joy

The 6 canucks sighed loudly
shook hands and quietly traipsed off the ice.

a few minutes later
hundreds of men and women came out to the ice
to celebrate the joy of the sport

hand out medals
hand out platters
hand out a trophy

and sing auld ang syne.