Original DDE™ art: “Daylight” by: rob kistner © 1/15/26
—-<§>—-
the snap ignites chaos
as it slaps into my hands
closing my fingers tightly to the ball
I secure it deep into my palms
then up — tucking it firmly under my arm
I pull away from the center
a mighty cloud of dust rolls
and I roll
as bodies surge
pads collide
with brutal impact
that rings the ears
and chatters the teeth
guttural grunts erupt
to fill the air
combining with chuffs and growls
in an animal-like cacophony
of intense human effort
after taking the snap
and rapidly deciding my maneuver
I see a wall of humanity
thrashing and closing fast
helmets and shoulder pads
stacked like a barricade
crashing down on me
thrusting towards me as one
just then — a little daylight
as a seam flickers open in the line
just enough—
I fix my eyes on it
and I explode through
hands gripping firmly the ball
heartbeat pounding in my ears
plant my leading foot
my first violent cut—
a defender stumbles—
falls
second gear—
my legs catch fire
I burn through 2 more tacklers
I veer left
sixty yards stretch out ahead
yard lines blurring beneath my feet
as I burst downfield
crowd noise dissolves into wind
breath sharp
vision narrows focus
as my one arm drives
the other guards the prize
a final shadow looms ahead
it rears up
dives at my knees—
damn
I’m dead—
but…
he’s missed
the end zone rises like a promise
with my lungs
thundering like a locomotive—
my legs pounding like jackhammers—
my mind racing like a rocket—
I cross the goal-line
in that very special moment
the world stops
and for a brief instant
all falls completely silent…
until…
yes! yes!
I’m screaming—
full throat
it’s then the roar washes over me
my arms shoot skyward
still cupping the ball in my right palm
like a steel vice
sweat and joy collide
as I realize
for one perfect moment
speed had become freedom
the world could not catch me
<~>
rob kistner © 1/15/26
Great running…. so physical.
And no leg cramps this way… 😉
SOOOO glad you could just us at dVerse LIVE today! Fun to see you and even more fun to hear you read this. My favorite words are in this stanza (written or read by you):
“with my lungs
thundering like a locomotive—
my legs pounding like jackhammers—
my mind racing like a rocket—
I cross the goal-line”
I can feel the energy here, the heart racing, the utter PUSH to the goal line in both your words on the screen here and when you read it aloud!
I think you should send this to the NFL! 🙂
Thank you so much Lil. I enjoy being with you guys, but it is really really hard for me now*— my eyesight, my hearing, my exhaustion … maybe I will try again in the Summer and see if I feel better? Thank you for inciting me Lil… 😉
Usually I just save DVerse poems to a file for printing and don’t comment on any of them, but today I want to say this…
Even if sitting up and writing felt all too much like sprinting for a touchdown…
This free verse poem brought back the night when a school friend sprinted ninety yards for a touchdown. My family didn’t go to games, but sometimes listened to the radio reports of them. That night was memorable for my family–the only moment when my father and brother and I all had good thoughts about a boy at my school!
It should have got him a scholarship. It didn’t, but he went to college and became a minister, anyway.
Well done with the poem, and thank you for the memory.
I You are most unwelcome pricilla. That impactnof that 60yd stills fcarries a high voltagienthril
After reading your comments, this poem takes on a more nostalgic feel and feels a little like wishing for a return to youth and better health. I certainly wish I had the energy of those times with the wisdom I have since attained!
We can —- but… 😐
I was right there at the game with you. I remember you reading this at OLN.
Hut 1, hut 2 — hike! So glad you could play Melissa, thank you… 🙂