Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Michael Laskey

ORANGES

ORANGES

ORANGES

Brought to us on a plate
at half time by the linesman,
we break from the pep talk —
he wants us quicker
at the rucks, more possession —
and jostle for choice of slice,
suck them, make gumshields of them,
or thumbing them inside out
we gnaw the last shreds of flesh
off the peel, wipe our hands
on our shorts, on Gorringe’s shirt.
Our perks, our just deserts,
not given a second thought
as we spread out, take up our positions
for the start of the second half.
Close

ORANGES

Brought to us on a plate
at half time by the linesman,
we break from the pep talk —
he wants us quicker
at the rucks, more possession —
and jostle for choice of slice,
suck them, make gumshields of them,
or thumbing them inside out
we gnaw the last shreds of flesh
off the peel, wipe our hands
on our shorts, on Gorringe’s shirt.
Our perks, our just deserts,
not given a second thought
as we spread out, take up our positions
for the start of the second half.

ORANGES

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère