Actors live in fantasy and dwell on myth
So when Jimmy Dugan makes that wrenching face and asks
That pseudo-rhetorical question and squeezes out the words that say,
“There’s no crying in baseball” they exist in the ephemeral,
Because we Met fans know for sure that there is crying
In baseball, and those tears shed by Wilmer Flores
On July 9, 2015 were felt by anyone with a soul
As they reflected the wisdom of a 23-year-old.
Those were golden tears, a blessing on the franchise,
A liquid expression that cried out, ironically, the love
And loyalty of a utility player for the only organization
He had ever played for, and how refreshing that a player
Did not want to leave for the greener pastures of another field,
How delightful that a player held loyalty to his team and teammates,
Above all else. How purely and joyfully naïve
And enriching — and reaffirming for the fans — that someone
Wanted to be cheered by them and supported by them.
The camera caught him being human, unable to hold back the tears.
How glorious it was to be reminded that ballplayers are just
Like us: they can feel fear and sadness and love. Their uniforms
Are just temporary disguises — and thankfully Wilmer reminded us that we
See ourselves in those who play the game . . . we see our youth,
Our pride, ambition, strength, and dreams . . . we recognize
On some precious level of reality that we are baseball and baseball is us.