Benched
I made the team but here I sit
I'm wondering if I should quit
The coach must think I need more work
Sometimes I think he's just a jerk
He badgers me at morning skate
But that's just one thing that I hate
The other is that he's so tough
I really think I've had enough
I wish that he would just ease up
It's pee-wee, not the Stanley Cup
Can't he see how hard I try?
I do all he says and never ask why
He's put me on defense, he's put me at center
He's made me both a right and left winger
The thing I don't get is, I've played pretty good
At all those positions, I've done what I should
My teammates even think it's wrong
They think I'm fast, my slapshot strong
I know I've got a ways to go
But not to be playing just doesn't flow
And now the coach is coming toward me
He knows I'm bummed and really angry
"Look, I know you want to play,"
That stupid coach starts to say
"But these guys need it more than you."
"What?" I ask, a bit confused
"You're the best one that I've got
You know what to do, the others do not
That's why at practice I push you so hard
You have what it takes to really go far
I already know what you can do
I have to see what they can do
It's the first game of the season
So that's why you're benched, that's the reason."
He pats me as he walks away
Leaving me speechless - what could I say?
The coach is a good guy after all
I feel pretty stupid, I feel kind of small
But, wow, he thinks that I'm the best
He actually likes me, who would've guessed!
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