Poetry Friday: Tournament Rap

Happy Poetry Friday!On Sunday,  I had a chance to observe Olympian Jordan Burroughs working with high school wrestlers on Maryland's national team. The team of about 60 teens will be competing in Fargo, North Dakota this weekend. It's the freestyle wrestling national championships.Although he gave it up after middle school, my son wrestled for many years. Here's a poem I wrote when I was a mat-mom. In a way, it's a found poem, a rap made up of the names of wrestling moves and the things coaches say to their athletes.I hope you enjoy the sounds and rhythms of this poem, even if you don't know wrestling terminology.Tournament RapWizzer. Cement mixer.Lateral drop.Cross-face him. Headlock in.Base up, don't stop.Knees off the mat. Suck it back.Break him down.Tighten your grip. Wrist control.Don't reach 'round.Don't stop. Penetrate!Get close, you're too far.Keep turning. Don't stop now.Sink the arm bar.Get the pin. Get the win.Take shot after shot.Stay focused. Keep moving,and don't ever stop.