separate from the world

Wrestler

The referee comes to the center of the mat

And makes us shake hands.

No longer does anything else matter to me

But waiting for the sound of the whistle,

And the advance of my opponent.

I have trained hard and had my teammates behind me

But at this moment I am alone.

Alone knowing that the outcome is only up to me.

Nothing anyone else can say or do will matter.

The rest of the world goes quiet as I anticipate his move.

Out of the corner of my eye I see blurred images.

But I cannot make anything out

I know my coach is yelling to me,

but no sounds reach my ears.

Alone in this battle until the end.

I feel something slap my back

The match is over and at once,

My hearing and vision seem to return.