The Don Sestina by Jason R. Battle

'The Don Sestina'

You don't have to die to see lightening strike-
you can hear the Storm roll,
foul line to the pins,
sixty feet to the pocket,
one inch difference between a strike and a corner split-
pin number five is king.

ABC is the council of the Kingdom-
Max. score, twelve strikes,
7-10 dreaded split,
'Over the line,' next roller,
victor pockets
a golden pin.

Held on a weekly basis, pinned-
in by fried smoke, anticipating the perfect game king-
happy hour, ten in my pocket,
Pabst Blue Ribbon chick strikes-
Sloppy Donnas roll
home after the bartenders split.

2-7 and the 3-10 baby split-
ball rotation generates dancing pins-
rental shoes glide like rollers
on the wooden runway of kings-
striking
poses until the ball enters the pocket,

PBA players hurl balls into the 'Money' pocket-
eating grease dogs as they split
cheese sticks, one piece jumpsuits, striking
gut stretched polos and pinned
on wigs, they're kings
master rollers.

Working ball rolls-
breaking runway oil, hooking into the Brooklyn pocket,
to the left of the head pin-
manger wishes he could be the kegler king-
lost his teeth, railroad split,
got the job when he went on strike.

300 game king dreads a split
rolls his Brunswick towards the pins-
steady, into the pocket, thunder, 13th strike.