Restless Wrestler

to the memory of Richard 'Dick' Alexander
August 19, 1941
July 26, 2013
and
Melissa Eatman Neal
December 11, 1969
December 14, 2012

Restless Wrestler
by john clare stokes

The mat was never the only thing
One pin fall in '58 from taking it all
The Restless Wrestler paid his dues
and took flight over the
Seven Mountains
to parts unknown
following friends in a signature move
laughing with his entire being
just a cuddly Nittany cub
bear hugging
not really intending
to draw blood
in search of some fun
And here he would come
Over the Sand Hole ridge
around the Spruce
with Pleiades above guiding
speeding through the Long climb
to the cold Broad at
two-thousand feet
with a view of the
Pennsylvania valley
from Milligan's Knob
the Restless Wrestler made
the Sand peak about dawn
seeing the first rays from the
Bald summit
never looking back
the '99 Porsche Boxster purring
toward the warmth of Florida
to the friends waiting
far from the pain of Sandusky
and the good memory of Paterno
to sweet Melissa with her tender care
the closest companion
the Restless Wrestler ever knew
before the dark match came
the fight of his life
his old signature five moves of doom
not helping one bit
the faithful stage grip
not giving in
a main event guy he was
the junior contender facing
bravely the Lumberjack
no complaints or foul calls
the monster heel taking advantage of
the Restless Wrestler with the
ring rust
the slow burn of time from the mat
taking its toll
As in the end
the Restless Wrestler wasn't defeated
he only took a visual fall
took the pin willingly
wanting more than anything
to end this match
to speed again over those
Seven Mountains
his valet Melissa waiting
in the wings beside him
towel in hand
top down
perfect chemistry
the Pleiades guiding them
through the heights
to friends
the sound of deep laughter
echoing over the
Seven Mountains
the tag team
speeding toward
parts unknown
and warm.