J.O.S. Days

With the names of the men killed on the battlefields. @
They were center forwards
Keepers and backs
They thought they would win.
It’s a family tradition to play in a football team
I have nephews
Dumb but tall
Who
Still fetus
Kicked the ball.
I’ve got flat feet and my knees are weak
They all thought it was time to start my J.O.S. days
My J.O.S. days.
The last war in this country
The fighting lasted four days
Between the names on this list I see one name again.
He had my age and my first name
He thought he would win like in his J.O.S. days
In his J.O.S. days.
They had too many boys who wanted to be in a team
So in one day
In one match you had to prove your ability.
I was knocked out
A real disgrace
A break with the family tradition in my J.O.S. days
In my J.O.S. days.
I can live without a finger
I can live without a toe
But the head is necessary.