CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Visit waxpoetryart.com to explore poetry
(including haiku
and spoken word),
visual art,
photography,
play,
and fiction
submission opportunities.
Experience the thrills of the Weekly Poems Contest.
January 15th, 2026
Edmonton Poetry Contest #1 – First Place
by Tina Kiklevski
He doesn't say, I love you
with flowers or fancy words –
he says it when he lets me have the better seat,
closer to centre ice,
like that's just the way it's supposed to be.
He knows I love the anthem,
sings it quietly beside me,
off-key and all,
but never misses a word.
That's how I know.
The first period is our warm-up –
shoulders brushing,
little smiles,
him handing me the last fry like it's nothing,
but it's everything.
He watches the game,
but he's watching me when we almost tie it up.
I see it in his eyes –
I matter more than the scoreboard.
Second period tension hits,
he grabs my hand – no words,
just that firm grip.
Like he's saying,
I've got you, always.
We ride the waves –
bad refs, close calls,
power plays and broken sticks,
hearts pounding in overtime.
And when the buzzer sounds – win or lose –
he's standing with me,
hand in mine,
watching the handshake line
like it means something more.
Because love isn't always roses.
Sometimes it's cold seats,
cheesy nachos,
shared jerseys,
and knowing when to cheer
and when to just be still together.
This is how he shows it.
This is how I feel it.
Hockey is our love language –
fast, loyal,
and loud as hell.
About the Poet
Tina Kiklevski resides in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Read the poet's biography and Wax Poetry and Art publications
on Tina Kiklevski's Artist Page.
This poem is also featured in Comet #7, published in the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
Keywords: sports poem, hockey romance, Edmonton love, connection through sports
Previously published in Edmonton Poetry Magazine:
The Fruit & the Flower
by Jessica Julie Kavanagh
Edmonton Poetry Magazine is part of the Wax Poetry and Art Network.
- Visit the main Wax Poetry and Art Submissions Page to see all opportunities.
- Visit the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
- This website and all contents ©Kirk Ramdath and specified artists.
- AI Training is not permitted on this website.
(Advertisements)