Kevin McLellan

Swamp Rose
 

damned

at the out-

set: name

akin to a girl

who town

-to-towned

or an ab-

staining 

queer

who once

slept

around—i

am both

naïve & away

running    

though not

seizing

a swamp

—nor

a swamp

over me.      

Bloodroot


‘cause of all the O’s

‘cause rooted in taint

‘cause no nectar

‘cause red—‘cause

white petals but it’s

the stamen’s yellow

that makes me feel

dirty—& i is we &

we’re queer-

ing underground like

Gen Xers closing it

all down or the celibate

at nightfall for yet

another summer ‘cause

suicidal petals ‘cause

yellow ‘cause

exposure ‘cause

all of it back in the day; 

Tips For a Gay Teen in Rural New Hampshire  

Stay safe. Wear headgear. 

Tap your opponent on the head.

Figure out his reaction time and how he reacts to each movement. 

Have a plan before you fully commit.

Keep a low stance when not in contact.

Notice how long it takes him to get from one place to another.

Keep your elbow at an obtuse angle.

Never lead in with a straight arm. Get both hands on one of his arms. This is what you can control. Control his wrists.

Get under his armpit first. It can win the position. 

Apply pressure. Optimize friction.   

Keep your head up. Find an angle on him.

Look for open hips. What can direct his hips are your hips.

If he breaks your grip, be faster than his sprawl. Or you could find yourself out-of-bounds.         

Your choice or his. Cradle. Chest-to-chest. Bear Hug. Leg Ride. Flat Man. Guillotine.        

Become a rock, if in the bottom position.

No rolling. Don’t give up your wrist.