Cleats 

shoes that were bought 

in hues of electric yellow and rosy pink 

are now stained with mud 

dirt, wear, love 

Uniform 

an identification 

a source of burning 

pride that I belong 

I matter, I am here 

for a reason 

Goal 

an engineered structure 

a figurative and literal place 

where all things start 

end and happen, where 

memories are made 

Field 

a plot of grass 

it comes in perfectly manicured 

rectangles, and wonky quadrilaterals in

dire need of a haircut, painted 

with carefully measured lines, 

trampled with stories and 

wishes and curses and needs 

Ball 

a rotund object 

colors and brands define it

but it is the object, like the 

sun that the earth and it’s 

fellow planets orbit in 

a schedule of games and times 

and matches and playoffs 

Home

Home is wearing cleats, 

Identified in a uniform, 

Towards the goal, 

On the field, 

With the ball