rushing in and her arms swung like see-

saws.  Consider the leather as it rushed toward her,

smoothing tension into the children’s breathing

and the club was lost to the feet of caterpillar

after the impact of wood against cow skin and

the tips of feet pounding against the earth.

She pressed herself into the air and

flew across diamonds before her knees

and chin tasted filth, the quiet of winning

for the first time.  Later, she will spiral the

victory around her tongue, push it against

her teeth.  She will think of Andrew and how

he crouched like a field of lions, waiting

for her to hush herself into submission.  She

will consider her arms as they reached toward Andrew.

Consider her lips as they pushed into his feet.