Kickoff!

Above fabled ramparts pennants furl whip-snapping in the autumn sun.

The crescendo of a hundred drums rumbles across the immense green.

Puffy clouds float on blue horizon above the festive bowl rim

A hundred-thousand voices roar as one in sustained, building scream!

A whistle! The knights of a hundred seasons live once more

Ghosts of  galloping heroes of autumns’ past dash down the field

The brown sphere lifts and soars above stadium rim caught by breeze and hopes

Descending end over end to the lone sentinel to begin another season like hundreds before.

Like cascades of waves reseeding and surging

 the players hear  the cheers drift down engulfing

As the carrier is brought to earth

Again and again, the combatants sally forth strength to strength hurling

Stealth and guile and heart thrown against swiftness, effort, will and girth.

Punctuated by swift bursts of peppy brass and drum thunder

 from minstrels pomped  and proud

Spurred by bursts of roars rewarding  nimble run by  deft running backs

The paladins of striped  green plain struggle in golden sun lifted by the ultimate crowd

Awarding the diving miracle, the driving first down, the breakaway from the pack.

The reach-to-sky of  over-the-shoulder touchdown catch down the sideline jaunt

Brings multitudes to their feet with a cheer the valiant receiver hears forever.

The turning aside of a powerful drive by defender gallant

Earns rapturous response as enemy back is caught and tossed asunder.

On into the afternoon shadows the struggle and tumult unfold.

Heroes emerge to replace the legends of stories told of past plays

Today’s young become tomorrow’s old.

Who will tell the tales of this afternoon’s heroes on other golden days