It’s five degrees in the city today,
and it’s all I can do to keep from shivering.
I duck into a local drug store
to keep warm while waiting for the bus.
And then I see it on the racks –
a baseball preview edition
of a popular sports magazine.
Immediately, a warm glow envelops me
as I scan the probable starting line-ups,
team-by-team projections,
and short bios of present and future stars.
The temperature rises as I turn the pages.
A soft summer breeze,
instead of a knifing wind,
fans my fevered brow.
The cry of “Play ball!”
replaces the piped-in store music.
I step outside; my bus is here now,
and I am awash once more in the warmth
of the coming baseball season.
THE POETRY OF THE GAME