tale of a fracture in an old man pretending to be young

I slipped and then fell to the ground
Pain travelled faster than the sound
Of the muffled 'crack' from ankle right
Made me scream through jaws shut tight.
They thought kidding I might be
Changed their minds when my face did see. Could not stand, however hard I tried
By then Kurt and Marc were by my side
They helped me up and were concerned
I leaned on them as we returned
To the porch where my wife sat
Ice packs were placed on my ankle fat

The sons, their wives were sorry I played.
They had invited me to their football game,
Have fun with grandson Ari by name.
If I joined, even teams there would be.
We played in the snow, laughed, had fun.
That Ari! He can tackle and run.
The family was soothing and gave care
My every want was instantly there.

Next day pain and swelling were more
I had to see the doc for sure
To his office with wife I did go
On roads covered with ice and snow.
An X-ray revealed a fracture alright
My leg was placed in a plaster tight
I had to learn how to use crutches
Custom fitted after minor touches

Now life hopping with crutches started
Forearms were sore and shoulders smarted
Crutches look easy but are a bear
Just one, or if used as a pair
Its like eating with chopsticks
(Food plays with them all kind of tricks)
The crutches- they do as they please
Held tightly or with relative ease

They slip, slide, snag and easily fall
Seemingly for no reason at all.
It seems they purposely conspire
To see your frustration and ire
You sit and rest them on the door
They'll slide down gently to the floor1
Sand-paper rough became my palms
Unrelieved by creams and balms

Couldn't drive, walk, and couldn't run
Couldn't shower, changing clothes no fun
Totally dependent was on my wife
She was wonderful there was no strife
In a few weeks the cast was replaced
Now a 'Walking cast' my ankle graced
Detested crutches now put away
My swollen ankle saw light of day!

There was more excitement though
My leg swelled up from calf to toe
For Nuclear scan I promptly went
Which was O.K.- no clots- it meant.
The swelling did take time to go
Kept leg elevated-stayed away from snow!
I had returned to office to work
Crutches and all- I did not shirk

The patients, surprised, with concern
"What happened?" They asked, eager to learn
Did I slip, trip or downstairs fall?
"None of that, no, not at all
It happened when I was having fun
In the snow, playing football on the run"
They were surprised but did not say
'This man is old his beard is grey
You think his age he would act'
But murmured sympathies with tact.
pain, swelling, less, to a shoe progressed
From ugly slipper, looking positively 'dressed'
I wear a shoe over compressive sock
And with a slight limp I walk
Am thinking now of changing my name
From plain 'Biren' to 'Biren the Lame'!