Soft leather,
neon laces tied
in threes,
Tardis socks
up to the knees.
Hey ladies!
I roll on reds, 93s–
Gotta stopwatch to beat,
learning to shuffle my feet;
I’m the freshmeat.
Bright lights,
hockey court,
late nights, in
a contact sport.
Slamming hips,
pivot and swish.
On an flat track,
gotta get back
up and smack
through the pack.
Running plays,
out and in,
push and sway;
the blocker way,
help that Jammer
score again.
Watch the Vixens
win, win, win.
Music loud,
more laps,
music loud,
more claps,
knock ‘er round,
more laps,
rink rash,
more claps,
build a wall,
pop a hole,
snow plough,
T-stop; it’s my
Derby bop.
This poem is my response to Flashback Track Friday #6–Brand New.
Once upon a time, I played roller derby for a team called the Vineyard Vixens and after a couple of years, I made the travel team. I skated three to four days a week, all seasons. I was small for a blocker, but I was fierce. For my handle, I used my childhood nickname of KK to make KK-47. Punny, but ironic as I’ve never liked guns.
My mother taught me to skate when I was four. She figure-skated in her time and loved to bring me and my sisters to the rink several times a week. She is still so graceful on skates. My first six months, I skated on a really cheap pair of skates. I’m lucky I didn’t break anything. Once I saved the money, I bought my first Riedells; they were the perfect fit.
This poem is about my love of Roller Derby. If you’re wondering how the game is played, I’m attaching a super short clip of oversimplified rules. Hope you enjoy this flashback!
Modern Derby
Whip It Movie Clip~In modern derby, there is no punching and lots of rules–A penalty box for violators.
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
I’d be down on the deck,
I’d habe broken my neck.
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I think I could lead you around the track, though 🙂 Did you ever ice-skate? I was skating from such a young age, but yeah, I’m lucky to have never “broken” anything. I definitely banged my right wrist one too many times. It still aches every time it rains. Lots of bruises, but yeah, no serious injuries. I still like to go skating. No rinks here, though, there is a team they practice in a warehouse.
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I once had a gf who taught me to ice skate. In the end I was okay. Her real passion was roller skating, but when I tried it I was straight on my ass. I used to like watching ice hockey here but of course, it ain’t NHL.
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Looks like you’ve already been there rolled with that….I’m going to head into my writing session. It’s a bit late of a start. Thanks for chatting with me here.
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Big glass of wine afterwards!
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We used to get roller derby on UK telly. I remember it as very violent?
I loved the rhythm of your poem.
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Thanks for your kind comment. Yeah, I played WFTDA flat track. There were many rules. No punching, pulling, etc. Still, a contact sport.
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Still violent! Looked good fun though!
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It’s so less violent than the televisied wrestling version. Less so than rugby or even hockey. It is fun. Thanks for checking this post out.
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Yes great rhythm and sound rhymes. It’s very atmospheric.
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Thank you. It was fun to write a jam in poem form 🙂
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love the energy and romp of this; I knew a gal who played Roller Derby: she was tough, colourful and loud but that was mainly in comps 🙂
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Thanks, John. 🙂 I was definitely a bolder version of myself on the track, which I think helped me be a more confident person in my real life, actually.
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that’s interesting: how one role feeds into the other; I think yours is the first piece of writing I’ve come across on the topic —
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I needed something then. I saw a flyer at the coffee shop. I was trapped in a bad marriage, and just being a baby myself, I wasn’t planning to do anything about it. Derby made me couragous to make big moves in my life. Still, I love the glide of a good skate. 😉
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what a wonderful story 🙂
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