He can

He can

he can
remember
the game before the last game
the thrill

at work
he goes when he isn't hurting too much
they talk about that injury
in the last game
and how it could have been

but he knows
he was not that good
not good enough

he is older
how can he gain weight
when he hardly eats
he isn't working out
much

not like then

she was head cheerleader
not planned
he remembers that too
and her skirt
and enthusiasm

then he tries not
to remember

sometimes after the fourth or fifth beer
or later

he thinks about her and the kids
"you won't hit me again"

he remembers the photo
in the paper
from the game
and the caption

"He can hit!"