The Game

I'm no good at sports. And I'm also very shy.

I can't really hold a ball, and I promise, I've tried.

I grew up secluded, home schooled mostly.

And while it wasn't so bad, it ended quite costly.

I'm not very strong, and have very few friends.

Some stayed together, others met their ends.

I finally came back to a friendly public school.

It's worked out and all, but it's not always that cool.

I pass all my classes with grace and with ease.

All my report cards come home with all A's and all B's.

But when I go to gym class, where participation counts,

I lose all my footing, and drop all accounts

Of intelligence and joy, where I usually do best.

But I still don't do well with those I've not met.

I hide in the background, where no one can see me.

But the coach seems to know and he won't let that be.

"You'll fail this class, Elizabeth, young girl,

"If you don't get out there and give it a whirl!"

Don't hound me now, I know my rhyming's cheesy.

But when I'm confused, it's all that can ease me.

It's been a long day, and I still don't understand

Why going to gym class is always so bland.

I don't have many close friends, and I'm too shy in class,

But I'm told trying's all I can do before it'll pass.

Despite this disaster, my weak limbs and strange rhymes,

Today actually went well, it was actually just fine.

We played dodgeball in class, which completely to my surprise,

I started to enjoy, when dodging a ball, I realized

That all I had to do was go in myself.

Playing's still hard, but not with some help.

I picked up a ball and threw with all my might.

(That wasn't enough, as it just flopped to the right.)

I tried once again, hoping to get farther,

But it still fell aside, and my anger grew larger.

I couldn't get anything right, even if I wasn't out,

Which sadly for me, with a short little pout,

Was because no one could see that I was standing right there.

I said nothing at all, and it left a very thin air.

I was invisible to them all! Might as well have left!
Till someone threw a ball, and I puffed out my chest.

Now you decide to include me, now you'll let me play?

I wasn't a threat, and it didn't matter anyway!

I picked up that ball and I threw it again.

I ran up quite close, with a smug little grin.

Don't ignore me anymore, and if you think that you can,

Take this! And I yelled and I watched the ball as it ran

Directly into his back, with not very much force,

But I got him out, I felt grand as its course!

As much as I wished, I still wasn't good, not really, not at all,

But something that day changed, because of that ball.

Suddenly I was there, a part of the game!

I wasn't a stranger, neither my name.

I just had to include myself, it's not always their job.

This game, for once, didn't end with my sobs.

It wasn't very much, and I still was only barely there,

But I did something, I actually tried, I swear!

And though my rhyming was still cheesy, as I'm sure you've figured out,

My smile was larger, and I knew what it was about.

I may not be as outgoing as I originally thought,

But nothing's that bad, nothing's for naught.

I still can't really pick up a ball.

I can't win a game, even with my all.

One thing came to mind, and it's important to say,

Though I can't throw a ball, dodge a ball or aim.

I did, just a little bit, I actually tried today.

And that, right there, was what changed the whole game.