A bunch of you sent in donations at the haiku-level, so I decided to group them all together in what is the first No Grass in the Clouds digital chapbook. Please feel free to anonymously submit this as a nominee for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. Thanks again to everyone who donated. We’re north of $5,000 now. Pretty cool!
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Fernando Torres, for Nick
The boy with red cheeks
Turns into a hurricane.
Not for long enough.
***
Eden Hazard, for Scot
Running back, Q.B.,
All in one. The ball was yours,
Why did you leave us?
***
Clint Mathis, for Seph
Invisible clock,
It sits on his wrist. Tap, tap,
Time for the rooster.
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Adam Lallana, for Colin
Cruyff turn, Cruyff turn, Cruyff
Turn, Cruyff turn, Cruyff turn, Cruyff turn.
It is all we are.
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Virgil Van Dijk, for Craig
See a monolith.
A menace from a past life,
Here to make you whole.
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Carla Overbeck, for Alison
What is a loss if
You never lose? How do you
Rest if you must play?
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Mateo Kovacic, for Joshua
Room for you, always.
Love for you cannot be found.
Someday, maybe soon.
***
Luka Modric, for Eileen (Happy birthday!)
A creature, who is
Not you. Never touch a ball,
Nor a weight. You win.
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James Milner, for Matt
Beep, beep, it rages.
The test never ends without
Him, alone, in first.
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Sadio Mane, for Matt’s son
Two different feet,
But always the same result.
A goal says hello.