Not Another Mistake

Sitting alone on a bench
Hand pressed to his head
Thinking about what he's done wrong
And what he'll do instead

Remembering the last time
And the mistakes he made
This time it will be different
He'll explode like a grenade

He won't lose focus
This time he can't miss the goal
This isn't a game to him anymore
It's part of what makes him whole

The perfectness of it all
And last time he was off
He has to regain himself
Good just isn't enough

Last time he failed
And everyone saw him fall
Now he's back up again
And he's giving it his all

This time around he knows
That it means more than before
He's ready for the hardships
He picks up his weapon from the floor

He holds the stick in his hand
And puts the helmet on tight
Laces up his skates
And prays he'll do it right

Last time he played
All it was was a game
This time it'll be different
And he'll never be the same

He's ready for the sweat and blood
For the tackle and the fall
He's ready for the slashing
He's ready for it all

The puck won't miss like before
This shot is going in
He won't lose like last time
He won't be defeated again

As he stands against the locker
His shadow falls on the door
He wants the taste of victory
No one has wanted it more

One skate in front of the other
He walks to meet his team
For they are a reflection of him
And of the sport, it seems

The whistle blows and the wheels turn
He moves fast but slow
He's the only one who accepts it
And he'll be the only one to know

Carries the puck farther
In perfect form for sure
He raises the stick and brings it down
But does he score?

**This goes out to all my hockey playing/loving buddies. Mwah to hockey!**