Poetry Duel 32

A few fine words
​(at least, only a few words!)
 "I Dare You" is a poem I wrote from the perspective of an athlete who only wants a fair chance. Change a few words and you can use it in any situation. Boss give me a chance; banker give me a chance; agent give me a chance. 
​In a similar vein, in popular culture is John Fogerty's lyrics to "Centerfield" also widely known as "Put Me In Coach" which expresses more whimsically the same idea of let me show you what I can do, just give me an opportunity.
PREMISE
Vote for which poem you prefer. Leave a note. Send me one of your to be in a future duel. Read them. Enjoy them.
PARTICIPATION
If you would like one of your poems featured, please reach out to me. I love to promote others' good works!
FINALLY
At the bottom will be a piece of flash fiction, sometimes mine, sometimes not.

As I Like It #31

 Dare You
​Greg Schroeder, unpublished
 
I dare you, Coach
I dare you to see past
My appearance, my size
To give me a fair chance
To let my performance
Be the thing we see.

I dare you, Coach
I dare you to mean
What you say to us
About attitude, effort
And, especially, heart.

I dare you, Coach
I dare you to have courage
To judge on results
Not preconceived notions
And be the person yourself
You want me to be.
Centerfield by John Fogerty
​
Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the Mighty Casey struck out.So Say Hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio;
Don't say "it ain't so", you know the time is now.
Yeah! I got it, I got it!
Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment in the sun;
It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!

Flash Fiction

The land lay waiting. Spring had come with all the chaos of seeds bursting forth into new plants and old plants stretching their roots. Summer had come with all the activity that the warmth and the light brings to the myriad living things. Then fall had come with the frenetic work of the harvest and the winding down and retreating to a lazy, drifting rest for the plants and animals that would overwinter. And now the land itself was ready for its long winter nap, happy to rest, at least for a season.
​
​Unpublished, by Greg Schroeder 

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or, my Published Works
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