vozinha’s golden glove

vozinha’s golden glove hangs
on top of the world, zero to zero
a slap in the face of a giant.
look close to how the air
carries him: first flung across
the grass, swerving, face up
to the sky like surrender.
the ball heading towards him
eye to eye, a hunter to a doe,
clasping as thirst came knocking.
an opposing header comes in
and no he never loses control
he lets the air carry him
up to a jump, a press of a
fingertip and a close save.
look close to how he stands:
magnetizing, hands forging
a circle of steel.
careful hands, watchful eyes
on every corner of the stadium.
look close to the carpet of
wind carrying him, across and
over. it’s underdog season
this summer in america.
cabo verde glows gold on the
edge of the atlantic, illuminating
the atlanta grass as if saying,
“hold on unwavering, steadfast—
and may god increase your hunger.”

***

caipirinhas (or how vengeance is drawn in blood)

on the damp wooden counter the bartender
holds a tiny knife to cut limes for caipirinhas
after the big closeout of the
thursday game’s full time;
he stabs the plump air,
saying “fuck argentina.”

what’s the price of a blade?
what kind of vengeance lies in
slicing skin to skin so careful
then crushing morsels with sugar,
letting the juices bleed down the turf?

things are just promised to some people
on god’s green earth, like fifa’s golden boy
and once you’re tired of
putting your head down, you look up and
wonder the weight of could-have-beens and
pray-to-gods and the frailty
of betting against something that is promised
and sour gets you caught
within the crevices of your mouth
and then you lay down your body for more,
like a chalice, yes, the more is more,
that sacred wish, that secret prayer.

in between drinks i tell him
the sacrifices we need to make.
he cuts open another lime, saying
“that’s a good point.”
the whole world continues to turn.

***

Patricia Kusumaningtyas is an Indonesian poet, tech worker, and film/music writer. Their poetry and prose have been published in Fruitslice, Decolonial Passage, Roi Fainéant Press, Dead End Zine, and Poetry is a Team Sport. Her music, film, and art criticism have been featured in Our Home in the Dark, ACV CineVue, and Speed of Sound Magazine, and she organizes events with the Indonesian Film Forum New York.