Perfect Lies

The sight of the ball
half buried in sand
always glances against
your ribs --

the heart hitting
its own wayward beat
into the rough.

Suddenly you're on tour --
a murmuring gallery
of lawnowners
debates your club selection
over the applause of water sprinklers
clustered around distant greens.

that's when it's so tempting
to take a drop and hit a simple,
safe shot to the center
of the fairway --

that soft, nine-to-five spot
with the springy, suburban lie --
perfectly suited for a conservative
pitching wedge.

but somehow, you find yourself
setting up another shot --
feet dug in below the bunker's lip,
club face fully open
and ready to play it as it lies.

-- Brett Hursey