WINTHROP SMITH

from "Retrospective at 33"

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The coldness of the floor

In the boys’ lav., the cold-

Ness of the boys themselves

Stripping off their gym shorts

And t shirts: the wetness

Of the spot which showed on

The shorts of each boy who

Climbed alone on ropes, the

Wetness of sweat which

Soaked the boys who wrestled

In the matroom, glistened

On the bodies of the

Boys who stood for weighing-

In with jockey shorts or

Nude: the odor of the

Floor in the boy’s lav., the

Odor of the boys them-

Selves from the soap they passed

Among themselves in the

Showers, the odor of

The soap they passed among

Themselves when older, stop-

Ping from their showers, dress-

Ing for their classes in

Laundered cotton shirts and

Boxer shorts: the coldness

Of rain soaked running trails

In Late October, the

Cold, red hands of the run-

Ners after practice: the

Wetness of their hairy

Bodies drying off near

Steamfilled showers, the wet-

Ness of the gym itself

With aingle shower’s drip

Dripping late at night: the

Motion of the young men

Washing, young men dressing,

Young men acting out their

Conflicts and frustrations. . .