THE KEEPERS OF DENIAL (Sestina)

Sestina number one :) 01 12 13

Was it just another save?
Another imprint on the end of the defence?
Silence in the anti-spectrum of the shot?
Pink and purple tattooed the open-ended face
proudly substituted for the first mask,
blotting out the condescension of a goal.

Not that we ever pondered on a goal,
for we condescended just as much with a save.
Not that you would have seen the eyes in the flesh of mask;
I reckon our own defence -
those privy to their partners' open-ended face -
would be hard-pressed to see the squint behind a black-eye-candy-coated shot.

Broken cheek? A battle scar for which we thanked a shot.
Still you wouldn't know a save for a goal
on whatever canvass wrapped our face.
No elation notified the cheap seats of a save
and no beauty greeted our defeated defence,
beat and bailed out by the cheek bone of a mask.

Our chins and jaws were like nuts saved to cash in for a nutcracker. See, the mask
embodied many parts securing an inevitable parting shot.
The most poetic constitution couldn't author a defence
against the crime of a back-breaking goal.
No spine remained to sport on any subsequent save;
by then, a saved puck didn't save face.

Circumstantial artistry defined the degrees to which we chose to face
the so-called facts.  Some have said a mask
wasn't donned to save
our senses from a spiteful shot
but to make generic the reaction to a goal.
Some wondered, are we nursing team or psychological defence?

Colour any black and white system of defence
you tend to lean to after going face-to-face
with the physical salvation of a goal
and the alternative.  How many would decline a mask
when the alternative is the despondent draft from a shot
snuffing out the stoic glory of what's never just another save?

Maybe my retirement will render the dimensions of defence relative behind the mask.
But retirement will not quell the need to bear my face in the presence of another shot:
frozen rubber set aflame by the friction of a goal against a save.

Author's Note

And now for an agonizingly long comment section: first, a quick history lesson for those unfamiliar with hockey or hockey lore:

On November 1, 1959, Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens became the first goalie to wear a mask full-time after a shot ripped - not cut, ripped - his face from the corner of his mouth to the bridge of his nose. At a time when goalies took courageous pride in playing bare-faced - and were expected to play as such - he took a lot of heat for the decision, as everyone from his coaches to fans to his own goaltending brethren questioned his courage. Over the years, masks became artistic vehicles for goalies, who often had them painted with images that reflected their personality. Goalies are by far the most stoic, superstitious, and cerebral players in the game; they don't celebrate after a goal like scorers do, and for these tendencies are generally considered to be quirky characters.

Now a note on the poem itself: this little darling has been all over my notebook in the last month or so...I've wanted to write one of these for literally years now, and I'll tell you, they are not easy, hence the decision to write one around a topic I'm familiar with...it does indeed have some clumsy bits but for now I'm just relieved to have finally done it. Most of this was written under a cloak of sickness that I am yet to successfully shed...I swear that if you get sick in the Winter, you don't truly get better till Spring comes...the circumstances do not allow for a swift recovery, at least not for me...

For the record, that is my mask in the photo.

Reviews

[Ashira Macy]

You were correct, the subject matter was difficult for me as I do not know a thing about hockey other than the fact that it is played with sticks and a puck. BUT I think you did very well in your sestina, and what I like a lot is that you were able to stay poetic and philosophical in this even though the subject and form are more technical. You did a wonderful job, thank you for sharing this with me!

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Ashira, I really appreciate you taking the time to read it, especially when I knew it would be unfamiliar territory, as it is for the vast majority of people when you think about it ;) But I'm happy that you saw those elements in it, that's what really matters...if I ever try another one it will be more introspective probably...again, thanks so much for the read and the kind words :)

[Ashira Macy]

Always my pleasure to admire your art my friend!

[KeeD]

We don't have ice hockey here, so we usually play field hockey but I loved the structure of the poem, the idea behind it and it really educated me. I feel like I appreciate the sport more and the value of safety whiles playing such a dangerous sport. I like that despite all the obstacles and judgment he stood by his decision to wear the mask even if it meant that his career could die. He set an example and today it's followed and it just takes that amount of courage that every individual has but only few put it to use. Great write brother.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you Keegan as always for the compliments and time you devote to reading and understanding my stuff...as you've mentioned, it's an incredible story on so many levels...it goes beyond hockey and almost becomes a metaphor for perseverance in the grind of everyday life...I really wanted to get that feel across for those unfamiliar with or not close to the game, and I'm happy to know that I pulled it off...this one is a baby of mine ;)

[KeeD]

sure is and you must be a proud parent to have created such beauty!

[Asilem]

Wow.... Very nice. :)

[kublakhan27]

Many thanks :)

[MOON]

When you read without the authors note its like a metaphor for life , you captured that so well . The authors note just enhances it and reading it afterwards made everything clearer. Lovely insightful write.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you so much...it's such a unique position to play, not just within hockey but any other sport...there are definitely parallels to be made between goaltending and the general rigors of life...I'm glad you like the piece, and were able to see those parallels^^

[Robbie~xoxo~]

This too, can be about life in general. Face to face..we wear the mask for defense. Protecting the very core of our vulnerablity. Thanks for writing this, it gives insight to the sport. Well done!

[kublakhan27]

Thank you Robbie...there is indeed much to be said for the mentality of the position and how it mirrors one's approach to everyday life...glad you like it :)

[Pax]

Maryanne and I share the same culture so sadly i don't know much of that sport only in tv(watch it once, totally i have no idea..lol)... yet again you have a way of words my friend... somehow prose-poetry type...i like the info you have brought us in your authors note... i like the masked as well.. Great job my friend.

[kublakhan27]

Haha yeah I was trying to capture the mindset of the position more than the game itself, but anytime you're writing about a sport, there's a good chance it will require some degree of context...Canadians have little choice but to respect the Winter, and hope that it deems you worthy of its good graces lol As always, thank you for the kind words...this one is held close to the chest so I'm glad you like it :)

[Androglossia]

People don't play hockey where am at so I bet there is only handful of us who have a vast knowledge about the sport and sadly, I'm not one of the very few:( I for one only saw it on TV. My minor sport however is archery but I play basketball and made it big time during college and it's my all-time favorite. Well, just wanted you to know I have read this poem and without a doubt, you are the master of contemporary poetry on this site. You have an amazing way with words, Steven. Rock on!

[kublakhan27]

Haha yeah being a winter sport there are only a handful of countries where it's a major sport, hence the attached history lesson ;) I played on the top teams up till high school then I just got occupied with too much other stuff at college...that's awesome that you were able to play basketball at that level though...I'd love to try archery sometime lol

Thank you Maryanne as always for the encouragement and compliments...trust me, they go a long way in keeping my head straight :)

[Androglossia]

Yeah I tried reading the author's note too but I felt like trying to understand how a squid talks, lol. But I know it's just me. I'm a frog so I don't understand squid talks, haha!

I played center during my college days although I'm not the tallest and I can't even make one dunk, lol. Just good at hitting a variety of short jumpers, lol. But after college I got a little flabby and girls my age don't play basketball in my country unless they're part of a commercial team earning big time.

Well, you earned my compliments because you deserve them. You're very welcome!

[kublakhan27]

Haha I hear that...I'm actually abnormally small for a goalie, which is one of the reasons I could only play top-level hockey for so long...I've actually posted a few game pics that demonstrate that :P My reflexes are what saved me...because I'm so short, I have to leap for a lot of shots but I've got that down to an art now lol :)

[Androglossia]

If you are the only short player among the tall guys you could be the center of attention because you are uncommon. The advantage is their expectation would not be too high and if you are going to hit beyond their expectation you are a star:) Been there many times.

[kublakhan27]

Very true...I'm probably more mobile because of my size, and thanks to my reflexes, I do indeed surprise a lot of guys who think I can be beaten "up high" because I offer so much open space lol I'm sure it has worked in you favour as well ;)

[Androglossia]

It always has:)

[Prolific In Verse]

And here I was thinking this piece was about your native ancestry or about gun-control :)

Hockey? We lost.

[kublakhan27]

Haha well there may be ancestry involved from a heritage standpoint :) We win big, and we lose big, it would seem...

[KAOlmsted]

Aha; I knew it was about hockey. Nice. And to be honest, I didn't know what Sestina was until I googled it ;-) Looks like you've nailed the structure. I like the subject matter, because I like hockey, and clearly so do you...very well done. I may have to research this format in more depth. Thanks for teaching me something i didn't know, k...excellent stuff.

[kublakhan27]

Haha trust me, it was much easier to explain the subject matter than the form, hence the lack of a description :P I'm glad you like this one so much though, it means a lot...thank you Kim :)

[KAOlmsted]

She shoots she scores!!! :-D Always my pleasure, k...

[kublakhan27]

Haha indeed :D

[Steven]

I didn't always love the pace, but there are some really good lines in here: "Our jaws a nut and nutcracker all at once." Nice write.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you

[That_Girl]

The smile on my face could not get any bigger. This is my favorite piece from you by far. I am a hockey fan and although I don't follow teams, I understand the game and the politics and cultural aspects of it all. So this poem was an absolute JOY to be able to read. Thank you so much for posting, it's indescribably brilliant in so many ways. Congrats on getting this done, you should be very proud.

[kublakhan27]

OMG I never would have thought that :) That's cool, I'm happy that you can relate to it to some degree, I wasn't sure if anybody would lol...I'm also happy that this is your favourite...thank you, big time :)

[That_Girl]

Very welcome, it's lovely. :)

[kublakhan27]

:D