NaPoWriMo #11 – Play Ball!

This is my eleveth post for National Poetry Month 2010
• one free verse poem
• one haiku




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…this piece was written in keeping with the spirit of a prompt by Angie Werren over at read write poem who asked us to write about the choice we didn’t make…

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Spring Recall

•

it is this time every year
perhaps coaxed by the warming breezes of spring
that a flood of recall is unleashed

smell of leather oiled in neatsfoot
clatter of wooden bats in a canvass bag
rattle of metal spikes on concrete
snug feel of the ballglove
tuggin’ on the cap
rollin’ the bill just right

smoothness of the cowhide sphere
grip on raised seams
click and clack of the catcher’s gear
cheers, jeers and sometimes tears
right foot on the rubber
excitement of taking signs
leg coiled for delivery
the hey batter batter
pop of the ball in the pocket
anticipation of an onrushing grounder
launching the throw across the diamond
shielding my eyes in a high sky
relief of snagging one in the webbing

feel of polished hardwood
crack of the sweet spot
exhilaration of connecting solidly
breaking down to first
taking a good lead off
soft slide into the base
the thrill of swiping second
the joy of crossing home
my teammates in a dog pile
sweet sweet exhaustion
knowing I left it all on the field

your arm around my shoulder
the pride in your eyes
root beer at the soda fountain
with the team after the game
riding home on the tailgate
of our old Edsel wagon

it is every year
at this time
that I think of all of this
that I think of you

how you wanted me to try pro
how the scout felt I had the arm
it is the path I didn’t take
you never made me feel sorry

thank you for these memories
thank you for your love

• • •

 

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Chalk Lines

•

chalk lines laid on dirt

crack of white ash on cowhide

son’s smile is a joy

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

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…for more poems about other roads left untraveled, go to readwritepoem

16 thoughts on “NaPoWriMo #11 – Play Ball!

  1. Having now seen your response to Vivienne, Rob, it makes these memories all the greater. I think many childhood “dreams” get pushed aside.

  2. beautiful — and I don’t get regret from this. I get “love…”

    (not to mention I’m a cincinnati girl. those first few stanzas are full of vivid memories for me! play ball!)

  3. i really enjoy writing that’s so personal. thanks for sharing it!

    i love baseball. its pace allows it to fill in with so much beyond the sport itself. magic!

  4. Nice imagery, rob. I grew up in Louisville, KY and the Reds were my team as well. I played baseball as a kid and all the memories started flooding back. Looking forward to softball this Summer. Thanks again for igniting this memories!
    Haiku was terrific also!

    ~Mark

  5. We were definitely a baseball house; I made it to Little League before giving it up, but still have my inner sports fan. Not only is your description in the first poem lush and emotional, but that haiku is pretty stellar too, mister! Has all the proper elements and everything.

  6. Geeesh Rob…no kidden…can i ever relate to this. i attended a St Louis Browns tryout in 1956..(Larry Walker Sr. lso attended)..of course never worked out so I took the other road and played amateur lacrosse instead…..and the road or story could go on …but….here we are…thanks for th is Rob

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