My coach is young and I am old

Yes Sir I say then grunt and flay

two pads he holds, I know my goals.

His eyes demand two kicks I land

first feint the jab, the hook will stab

a kick across his chin then spin.

I strike his chest first high then low,

Again!  He grins, All in. Let’s go!

—Darcy Smith works as a sign language interpreter. Her poems have appeared in Boyne Berries, Up The River, Chronogram, MER, GTK, Sadie Girl Press, Universal Table, Arsenic Lobster, Between the Lines and RAR. Darcy is a Buddhist and a kickboxer. Her current obsession is executing a six punch three kick combination with perfect form.