Opening Day,
when the reality hits the base paths,
when an 0 for 5 ruins your batting average,
when dreams of starting off well
are crushed by a walk-off home run.
Why is the anticipation of everything
always greater than the actuality?
Dreams will always be out-hit.
Hopes will always be out-pitched,
and failure will always
send us back to the minor leagues.
But it doesn’t stop us
from stepping into the box,
knocking the dirt from our spikes,
and staring into the pitcher’s eyes.
No matter how old,
we are all little leaguers at heart,
eager for the possibility
that with one swing of the bat
we will claim our position in the game.
THE POETRY OF THE GAME