Offsides

Dulled by beer (I dropped
from stronger stuff) the gap
between the thought and deed
was what the legends tell,
and understandable. Folks said,
"Wait till high-noon sober, then we'll see
that snap-n-whistle
sweet-n-swift bambino
fox the eagles."

Shuffling lonely-toed
in my big brother's shoes, the gap
between the foot and Earth
was what the legends tell,
and understandable. Folks said,
"Wait till Kinney's opens, then we'll see
him strut-n-kick-n-dance
like Mishka Ehrenkranz
and Pippa
on the iron trestle's rim."

Folks almost knew.

A. Y. Tanaka