He was intoxicated and destitute
and flaunting an officially-licensed
University of Kentucky sweatshirt
celebrating that institution’s appearance
in the 1999 Outback Bowl. Remember
the Outback Bowl? Remember
the titanic struggle with the mighty
Penn State Nittany Lions? Clarify
again how next year’s recruits are critical
to the program. The most stupendous feature
of his ensemble had to be the yellow caution tape
wrapped around and around his waist–
part fashion statement, part belt to keep the pants up,
part social commentary, and part metaphor–
just like any good fiction, just like any gift.