Old School Football by Dan Provost

Three yards and
a cloud of dust only
exist on you tube videos.
 
Old footage of Walter Payton &
Emmitt Smith deep in the I
formation.
 
Seven yards from the quarterback.
Ready to run into eternity.
 
Very few mention Matt Suhey or
Moose Johnston, who bruised their
soul for the movement—first downs,
clock management and touchdowns.
 
Even fewer comment on the war raged
by Revie Story, Jimbo Covert, Larry Allen
and Eric Williams, huge men who sacrificed
broken fingers, ankle breaks, shoulder separations
 
for ownership of a place in sport not bigger
than a walk-in closet.
 
Everything evolves, your values, responsibilities,
 
Mortgage payments.
 
Change is a necessary part of the evolution process.
 
Sport is no exception.  The game of football is
now featured by names like Mahomes, Lamar Jackson,
DeShaun Watson…athletes who can cock the rock
and fly into endzones across the United States.
 
Being sentimental is not an evil trait however, closing my eyes
for a second, remembering how individual battles were
fought in the pit.
 
Triceps bulging, legs churning—running backs finding creases behind
stout fullbacks and massive offensive lineman…
 
Stares into opponents’ eyes…A silent agreement of
who would have loved to play for another quarter.
 
And who wouldn’t…

Dan Provost's poetry has been published throughout the small press for many years.  He is the author of nine books and lives in Berlin, New Hampshire with his wife, Laura--and their Bichon Frisce...Bella.