For at least eighteen months
He slept with his hand in that mitt
Squeezing a baseball inside
Finger tracing the signature of Johnny Bench
The pocket made catching magic
Protected his hand from the sting
Of the fastest pitchers on the team
Captured wild pitches
With an almost effortless swipe
Purchase with money earned
Mowing lawns
Pulling weeds
Cleaning drainage ditches
Dry
Flattened
Strings broken
Leather cracked
Like a puddle dried too quickly
Parched
Stuffing exposed
Still – he keeps it