by Stephen Jones
The Yankees swept the Astros
Thanks in part to Juan Soto
And his late-inning heroics.
I know, I know: one weekend
Doesn’t make a whole season,
But there are smiles in the Bronx.
Drenched
by Wayne Burke
5 a.m. chiaroscuro of clouds
dark & light
like day & night
like right and wrong
I climb over the
seat into the back
of the car when
we reach Buddy’s.
“Who is that, Al?” Buddy asks
as he sits, pumpkin-sized head
in silhouette.
I am shadow
on vinyl:
the hum of the engine soothes
like a lullaby.
In Pittsfield a bottle is found
under a seat.
Rain beats on the roof
like knuckles;
the great city, people, buildings, Yankee Stadium
drenched, the crown immense.
Maris hits one out
to right;
a big man in the grandstand catches
a foul ball in his bare hand and
stands like the Statue of Liberty.
After the game is called
we leave:
On the ride home Buddy and
Uncle Al joke, laugh
smoke cigarettes
as I
in the back
become more
invisible
each mile.
Goodbye, Cruel World, It’s Opening Day
by Hart Seely
The gods place bets with loaded dice,
And all our earthly dreams betray,
But listen to one clown’s advice,
Goodbye, cruel world; it’s opening day.
The politicians scrounge for power,
With consequences we shall pay.
But somewhere, it’s our finest hour,
Goodbye, cruel world; it’s opening day.
Our weary age is full of war,
The daily news brings dark dismay,
So surf the dreams worth living for,
Goodbye, cruel world; it’s opening day.
April 9, 1976: Rudy Schaffer, Paul Richards and Chisox owner Bill Veeck ring in Opening Day at Comiskey Park.
Bill Monbouquette
by Jim Siergey
Bill Monbouquette
Needed no sobriquet
For a name with such musical flow
But Bill Monbouquette
A sobriquet did get
His teammates all called him “Monbo”
Did Bill Monbouquette
Ever regret
That his name went on forevermore?
Because Monbouquette
Was shortened more yet
As M’b’q’t’e in the daily box score.
