By Stephen Jones
Smack! and See ya – it’s outta here!
There’ve been a lot of home runs this year…
I listened to two sun-bleached gentry
Sitting on thrones in nosebleed country:
“Anyone hear of Long-ball Joe?
He’s a hitter!”
“Yeah, I know.”
The sneer was unmistakable,
But Speaker One was still unflappable:
“Oh yeah? Whatta’bout Serve’em-up Slim?
I guess, maybe, you’ve heard of him…
The way they hit … it’s box-office money.”
“Yeah, sure … like video-game currency.
And ev’rybody just oohs the velo
And wishes they could launch just so.”
Then I heard: Beer! Beer! Getcha beer!
“Hey beer! Two beers … over here!”
(Pause)
First, sighs of satisfaction;
Then Sneer launched into criticism:
“Anyway, it don’t matter. Somethin’s wrong
With the ball. It just shouldn’t travel that long.
And now I hear that mebbe it’s the seams
Or the way core’s now wrapped in string…
“You tell me. What’s behind the curtain?
I dunno. But one thing seems certain:
Now the stadium’s a home-run theme park.
With gaudy numbers. And we’re all a part.”