Upper Tier, Front Row

1.

Kev looks across
Calls me over
There's a seat
Free
Beside him
In the front row
Grateful
A great view


2.

A player
Jogs closer
Pauses preparation
Looks up seeking
Familial faces
Points a finger
To the right
Blows a kiss
To someone


3.

Squeezed in tight
Beside her mum, 
She sees the man
In the blue shirt
Waving
Then bursts out
Brightly
"That's
My Daddy!"


4.

Cuddling
Her daughter
Closer
New baby boy
On her knee
She's touched
By the joy
Of her little girl
With arms full
she can only nod
And smile
Hides
Anxiety
Hopes he won't
Get hurt
Not lose
Come home
Happy


5.

Hunched over
Leaning
On walking stick
So old that
The process of
His gradual
Shrinking
Visible
Even during
The match
He's here
Excited
At the prospect
Relieved
To be here
Having been
Revived
By paramedics
Who worked on him
For three hours
Just two weeks ago
Frustrated
That he missed
Two matches
Reassured
That they were
Pretty dull
By all accounts

~

n.b. NaPoWriMo 2023. Day 23 prompt: Numerous numbered stanzas from various people’s perspectives at the same setting.

CLP 23/04/2023