Freeney’s Ankle

A Poem for the Colts

I know way too much
about the high sprain,
basketball sprain, ligament
damage, the chair he placed
it on for elevation. I can’t stop
reading about it, listening
to how it spells the end—
Brees breezing his way
through the game without
pressure. Too much pressure
on Freeney’s ankle so he can’t
make his spins and cuts so
the Colts are in trouble.
I dream of the swelling
going down but see him stepping
on Farvre again and again
and again and coming up
hopping in pain. I even
write poems about it. But
come on, surely the whole
damn team doesn’t rest
on one man’s glorious,
speedy, flying, furious
ankle? Can’t Payton
pick it up on offense?
No one even knew
who Kelvin Hayden
was when he swiped
Grossman’s pass the last time
to turn the game
like an ankle. Surely the Colts
can rise like young horses
and stand on their own
four ankles, even if
one of them is a little lame.