sometimes late in the 4th quarter
you’re down a score,
out of timeouts,
and it’s 4th and long.
on the line is your whole season
or your job
or your life.
and you throw the Hail Mary
toward that one corner of the endzone
where your receivers just might beat the cornerbacks
in a jump ball
or a volleyball tip,
and two feet just might land in bounds,
and the crowd just might roar,
and you just might reach to the sky in triumph,
and your tears just might be ones of joy.
coach always said you play your heart out until the whistle.
on each and every down.
until the final one.
leave it all on the field.
that’s what champions do.
even when they lose.