This Year's Champion, Collaboration With Patricia Creswell

It’s the last of the snow Spring finally arrived Time to get ready for battle Time to get my little hands On my bag of marbles Way up there since winter Abandoned on my bookshelf A droopy, limp blue velvet bag But today a long lost friend So proud, so bold and so bright Protector of my priceless collection Glass and steel weapons of rolling destruction I undo the golden drawstring Close my eyes and reach into the dark Cloister of clicking clacking spheres They run through my fingers Feeling better than gold through a miser’s hands Aggies, immies, cats eyes, steelies and the most dangerous, mibs Big fat bully marbles capable of Knocking all of the competition Johnnie had better watch out this year Last year’s champ Johnnie’d been lucky A shark, wincing his good eye and Whack, all the marbles dispersed With brutal force they would fly Like a big exploding rainbow Fragments scattered on the ground Crushing… yet really awesome When he pulled out his mib We knew we were done But this year will be different This year I’m more determined Practiced each move in my head Like a general devising his attack Spit shined alleys, aggies, Jumbos, glass ones ready for action Aggies, my luckiest by far Leaving for school full of schemes and ploys On the way defiantly sizing up opponents Eyeing the size of the enemies’ arsenal Running fingers through mine Challenging anyone carrying a loot We had watched the yard for days Barely contained our determination The last of the snow clung stubbornly to school walls Dry patches would proclaim the official opening day Our first spring tournament could begin And today is the day we all know it Recess rings, doors open; “Hooray” Is all we hear across the dried yard As groups knuckle down to play for keepsies Winners keepers, losers weepers Hear that chittery clickety click clack melody Johnnie is there full of snickering confidence So sure he can perpetuate his reign But he doesn't know how hard I’ve practiced How much I want to earn his loot Crush him and any other rival Who dares to show off Ready Get set Aim just perfectly right Written collaboration with PATRICIA CRESSWELL AP: Honorable Mention 2025 Submitted on March 19, 2025 for contest YOUR CHOICE C sponsored by BRIAN STRAND November 6, 2017 for contest I SHALL COLLABORATE WITH YOU sponsored by JAMES EDWARD LEE SR