sprained tendons

you ice it
down, give it
heat, a massage
you swallow
down some pills,
you stare at it as
if you had x-ray
vision. you move
it around, left
then right, you
strap on a
tight bandage.
a few days go
by and the limp
subsides to where
you are no
longer walking
around like grampa
coming out
of the vitamin
store. a week
passes and
by friday you
feel okay. not
perfect, but
on a scale of
ten, maybe a
seven and you
say to yourself,
not anyone else
because they'll
just roll their
eyes and shake
their head,
i'm ready to
play again.
and so you do
and on sunday night
your leg is propped
up on the coffee
table and it's back
to the ice pack
and a stiff drink.
do not go gently
into that good night.
no, you're not.