THE BATTLE OF WOUNDED KNEES

                                          

                                         Their stamping ground is evening by the river,

  Same as gnats.  But more robotic:  creepy crawlers

                                With antennae, running a closed circuit inside their skulls,

                              Spacing out to a strident beat but deaf to the extra-auricular;

                        Or messengers winging from Marathon to run the story on victory;

                                   Others are propelled by tempus fugit or carpe diem,

                                                Striving to shake off this mortal coil;

                                           Or excess baggage – plain running scared;

                                          Others get a buzz from being in circulation;

                                     Or getting high on speed, tearing through the wall

                                                          And stitching it behind

                                                (even run-down batteries recharge);

                                                 Others in the ordinary run of things

                                                        Are puffers from aortal toil,

         With a full head of steam,

                                                           Gruntled and grimacing,

                                                           Shunting and pistoning,

                                                        Like loose-jointed scissors;

                                                              Hackers and hissers;

                                                                 A Reebok flasher

                                                     In pink bike tights so dashing;

                                                Smashing girls bobbling, full of cheek;

                                                       Nobbled men past their pique,

                                                            Excruciating ligaments,

                                                               Lactating liniment;

                                                           Some listing amidships,

                                                          Baling out sweat and spit;

                                                          Husbands loping gallantly,

                                                                   Wives valiantly

                                                                       Abounding,

                                                                    Ezra pounding,

                                                              Gluteuses maximising,

                                                                    Hammy strings

                                                                    Slightly tighten

         Fall to march

                                                                  ing, fallen arches

                                                                foil blistering pace,

                                                                     hearts racing,

                                                                    pulses pacing,

                                                                       time killed,

                                                                        stand still

                                                                        Michael Small

July, 1992, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

pub. Stet. Australian Writing & Writers, no.2, 1993, South Australia