There I am, just struck out the side
and they won’t pinch hit for me
so I get up to the plate watch
a fast ball streak by
umpire yells Strike!
the dude on the mound tries
a high hard one
Ball! the ump calls
then the fast ball again
but I’m expecting it
meet the horsehide
square on the sweet spot
watch as it
sails to center
while centerfielder
goes back
keeps fading toward the wall
off grass to dirt
he goes up
glove open
he misses
it’s a home run
we win
I wake up
THE POETRY OF THE GAME