University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 13 text:

His eyes stare at the path straight ahead of himg his mind clicks off the seconds and yards as they liy from under his sharply-clad feet, he miserly spends the strength he has hoarded. l am held by the beauty of muscles in action as with lightness and grace he strides on his way. His body cries out for the end of it allg his unheeding mind is adin with wild passion to win at the tape: The up-cringing arms, the distorted face, the back-sinking head,-soul agony-oblivione The time is announced and brought to him then, a tenuous smile is his answer: He's glad he has won. Ill. I love to grapple the body of my brother, I love the tang of the sweat of my brother, I l love the embrace of joy and resistance. Gocllilce he stands as he awaits the encounter: his arms are pressed outward by reason of wedges of muscle, there's beauty and wonder in each line and proportion. Locked in his arms hc's mine while I hold him: through velvety sheaths of fibres that writhe, I come at the soul of the wrestler, my brother. To the shoclc of our bodies, though blinded with sweat and desire, our hearts sing together, sing the rare song of communion of human with human. IV. Tis sunset, and full into the face of the big, dying sun, my soul, panting with melody, hurls its greeting, exultant and free. primordial joy grips my breast as l sing, as l sing the blood-song of men that are men. l chant a hymn for the earth-joy. l list to the pean of warm, human brotherhood that swells along the street-aisles of the city as l go on my Way. l lie down to slumber: quiclc-fading conscience comes with the touch of my bed, with the fragrance of my rose- bed of luxurious calm and repose, Soft, satiny shadows steal down about my body, relaxed and fatigued Through the black of oblivion tinlcles a tremulous, sweet, siren note, the flute-note blown by the flesh-god thatl worship, The note of the lure of the struggle. -7-,ml H, Uzzey. 7

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. . ' ,V , Gi. , Q Q-'fig Q. C OU 0 C C C .,,. M- - .M H .g . . ,-,, E5 ii k mxi' N f, N Y , 4, M ' ' L--' :ggi 7' li ,X sa gg Q , v Rejoice, O young man, in Ury youll1! - Eccles. X1-9. I. Sing of the body struggling. I sing of the life of the player of foot-ball, I sing of the low crouch, the firmly-set legs, the ey? I I n 3 . , sv v X X s out-standing eyes, the swirling avalanche of on- rushing, thick-padded masses, the thump of the The lure of the great game of games has a grip on my soul: The broad, checkered field, the high human embankments, 'rn F fi 57' clash of well-tutored limbsY the thrilling embrace! .gp wh .Qf W' 5 : 3 I alive with the wild-spirited multitudes, the nip and the zest of the crisp autumn air, charged and electric with untamed suspense, The battle itself: the nerve-tearing dive at the man with the ball, the red-blooded passion aflame with the gust of the fight, the white and drawn faces looking up at the sun! I sing of the field-home of the giants: hot, heavy- aired, teeming with shout and with groan, areek with the odor of liniment, alive with the industry of towel-girted trainers, plying their bandages, ghastly and white. I know the moan of the strong man aweary, and the pathetic, expressionless face of a player exhausted. I understand fully the naked, conscienceless language burst from the bloodless lips of my team-mate enangeredg I am awed by the majestic tread of nude, white bodies aglow and aglisten with sparkling, unabsorbed drops from the shower. II. I am fascinated by a runner. He swings along at the edge of the Hat cinders, his slightly bent arms keep time with his sinewy legsg he breathes from the depths of his bodyg His soul, wind-swept and free, sings to him as he travels. There is one thing of the world that he fears, the crunch of cinders behind him. 6

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mln, Q , ' Ih H x 9 ' L..........'3 Cyrus Northrop, LL. D. r 'E EX President of the University QQ Q 2 2 i oo Clio R THIS Him. .IUHY Llxli ' m.. President of thug lrnrinl rlxlllrf lInN.Alo11N A.jm1xsrmx Gow-rr1ox'rwftl1c Slam: Tm-1 lwlox. JOIIX XY. c,JT.SIiN ' .r , State'Sl!p1'1'11xu'x1de11tOflulwlic Inslructimx Tmi IION.'1'll03lAS XYILSUN 'l'H1c Him. B. F.N1c1.swx Tuba Him. A. E. R102 Tm: Hwx.D,xxn21. R. Nwvu. ,PHI-I Hwx. PIERCE BL l'I.l'IR 'flirt Hmm. S. M. OWEN 'FHIC Hnx. XV. xl. IXIAYU Tllif Hwri. HENRY B. Hmmxxlr 8 Q