Reviving the Art of Baseball Doggerel
Tis true, yes I have seen it with my own blue eyes
My husband never tans, you see, no matter how he tries
His head and neck and arms were sacrificed for love
Yes, for the White Sox, a simple bat and ball and glove
His skin doth glow like a red hot coal, his burn is living proof
Dear god, why didn’t you stand under the upper deck roof?
Buy some sunscreen or a hat, or maybe ask to borrow?
No, he suffered silently and will pay the price tomorrow.
Williamsport
Late August
Kids of summer rule
Teams gather
From all corners of the globe
Baseball
Like it was meant to be played
No-hitters
Walk-off home runs
Final inning rallies
Japan the champion
But
Every team a winner
Gotta love this game
Everybody’s on the skids
Yankees, maybe Baltimore too
Throw in hot Tampa as well
And one wonders about Toronto
“Skidding” being short rides
in September – and who
comes out on top, well
a skid is a slide through
September, anybody’s guess
Players missed when it counts
wild pitches now a measure,
late-season swoons and rallies
and who plays in October
Near the bottom the Cubbies have crept
They’ve been rotten, a club most inept
So, against the top Nats,
No defense and no bats,
All they got was a drubbing — Nats swept.
In baseball heaven the diamond is alive
with color and sounds and souls.
In baseball heaven people from all corners
of this round earth attend the services together.
In baseball heaven the grass is emerald green
and always perfectly trimmed.
(The joyful Africans swim across its softness.)
In baseball heaven the mound and base paths and batters boxes
are always firm and brown, adorned with bright white shapes.
In baseball heaven the umpires and coaches are dialed in,
ready to make each call well.
In baseball heaven the locusts add to the peaceful buzz of August excitement.
In baseball heaven the bunting hangs from under the grandstand roof
in two dozen arcs of red, white, and blue.
In baseball heaven the tall sturdy pole supports a hundred pounds of Old Glory
as it powerfully flutters over the proceedings slowly.
In baseball heaven the fans cheer every great effort
made by any team’s player.
In baseball heaven character and courage and loyalty are on clear display.
In baseball heaven even the anthem celebrates the courageous players …
ending with “the brave play ball.”
In Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the fans all gaze upon a field of perfection …
and so does God, and He smiles.
Todd’s youngest son recently competed at the Little League World Series in Williamsport on the Nebraska championship team.