muscles taut,
pulse with tension.
a moment, a pause
before the whoosh
released, relaxed
long thinning of the forearm
extended bat.
the twitch of eye-to-eye
pitcher versus batter
who blinks
when the moment passes?
fine lines deep
around the mouth as
cheek muscles vibrate
like the arm that twitches
beneath the stiff pose
poised
staring down the pitcher’s
ball cradled in fingers
long and curved embrace
a letting go
leading to a blink
a future just past the extension
an arm’s bat –
tense, ready.