The Bulldogs and the Mudhogs

Football brought shivers to folks in Three Rivers
With slivers of Fall in the air
And the crowd was excited but not so delighted
By weather more cloudy than fair 

A player named Paul was the proudest of all
And he played for a team that was great
Yes he played for a team and the sake of a dream
To be known as the best in the State

The Bulldogs were bruisers more often than losers
And Paul's game was proving his worth
He was better each year with a dad who was clear
That his son was the finest on Earth

They were planning to squash all the boys from Mud Wash
A team that was zero and nine
But all of their scorn was like buckets of corn
To the 'Hogs who refused to be swine

The Mudhogs, in fact, we're not willing to act
Like a team that is tepid and weak
For the rain and the mud were the life and the blood
Of the boys when they played at their peak

With pride on the line and a reason to shine
All the Mudhogs were ready at last
But the half-time arrived and the 'Hogs that survived
Were dismayed by the two-quarters past

Now the Bulldogs who led by just three points ahead
Were convinced that the Mudhogs were done
But the ‘Hogs made it clear they had nothing to fear
From a team that was ranked number one

For the MudHogs to win they would have to begin
To disprove what the Bulldogs had said
So they fought with a strength that was better at length
By the way they came back from the dead

The fourth quarter came and the score was to blame
When the fans said the game was a dud
But a storm cloud appeared and the Mudhogs were cheered
By the downpour of rain and the mud

The Bulldogs were floored by the 'Hogs when they scored
And the latter were leading by four
But the Bulldogs were glad by the weather they had
When the grey sky turned sunny once more

Well the call went to Paul who was sure of it all
On a play that was first down and goal
And he knew they would win by the size of his grin
And the play of a team on a roll

The fans and their team were so ready to scream
With a second or two left to score
But Paul and his pass were reduced by the grass
That was fed by a 'Hog to a bore.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

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Chunn Avatar
January 26, 2023 at 4:47 PM
I really like this one Brian. As an old high school foot!ball coach, I remember a real life game that this could have been patterned after. Nicely done....and congrats on the placement.
Caliri Avatar
January 25, 2023 at 11:26 PM
Congrats on 6th place in my contest! Great imaginative baseball write. Love the detail and and the homespun feel of it. Americana at its best!
Radice Avatar
February 7, 2021 at 7:18 AM
This is absolutely fantastic Bryan. Great story, rhyme and everything else I love in a poem. I'm off to read it again. Congratulations. Cheers - Gary
Norton Avatar
February 7, 2021 at 7:03 PM
Thank you, Gary. I really appreciate your comments. I've tinkered with it quite a bit and hopefully it's much better now.
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