genesis 2018 final digital.pdf


Stand Like the Bull
Tanner Léon 

The only one 
on the guys' team 
who didn’t shave 
his head,
a real warrior
amongst high school
peer pressure.
They were ready to hold
him down 
with clippers
on standby
before the coach
with a hung head
grumbled for him
to be released.  

Fast forward to sectionals,

of  the year.

His hair is all tucked
up into a swim cap,
a ball of  fury
and warping potential energy.
His swimsuit:
a skimpy thong at best,
reserved for competition
built for speed,

He’s in lane eight,
closest to the crowd
on anticipatory edge
and takes position
on the starting block,



Stand Like the Bull
adrenaline pumping hard
throughout the veins 
of  his trembling body.
The entire girls’ team
chants his name
to the beat of  his heart
faster & faster
the rush 
of  this moment
could be felt
years later
with simple 
reminiscence.
It took his breath
away every time. 
 
“Take Your Marks”
starter beeps
he’s a swan
that glides 
into a stream
slicing through
angles in water
heartbeats on 
a line graph,
he’s gone. 
His arms,
they pump like
two windmills 
in freestyle artistry
legs kick to the beat

that’s a need
for a brush with life.

taken like a champion.
 

exhumed into the lap pool,
you could see the apparition



Tanner Léon
of  energy streaked through
like squirts of  Mio
in your bottle,
dragon claw marks
left behind.
 

at his royal departure
from the water,
his kingdom,
as though Neptune
rose again. 

He strolled 
back towards his team,
removed the cap,
a prison.
 
His hair tousled out

of  his teammates
ready to hold him down

 
On that day,
they understood 
what it meant: