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Kissing HER on the Strikes

By Todd Herges

With apologies to Dizzy Dean.

Spring Break is time for training to play ball
For players and a college couple, too.
But not on sun-drenched South Padre Isle,
And not in Havasu or cheap Cancun:
This boy and girl chose Cactus League for fun.
It could’ve been Vallarta for few pesos.
Instead, like pitcher’s wife and baby son,
They sit on metal bleachers swapping besos.

The sun shines down, the pitchers look for signs.
The umps yell “Foul!” when balls cross outside lines.
The batboys all learn what there is to know.
The shortstops practice how to cut a throw.
While players wait for cut lists, pace the halls,
One schoolboy hopes she’ll kiss HIM.

Posted 3/9/09.

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Queen City Bingo

by Doug White

Walt and Bobby sitting in a tree,
S-I-G-N-I-N-G !
First came Corey,
Then came Willy,
Now there’s no hope of catching Philly
(or anybody else in the wild card race …)

Posted 3/5/09

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Wisconsin Spring

by Doug Fahrendorff

Yesterday
At school
Far from the sun-splashed fields
Of Florida and Arizona
Spring training began
Two boys
Dressed in down jackets
And boots
Against the March wind
Began a game of catch
Near the fence
At the far end
Of the tennis courts
I watched them
Tossing the ball
Back and forth
At times lunging awkwardly
To glove errant throws
Jump-starting spring for me
As certainly as the robins
I’d seen that morning
In my front yard.

Posted 2/25/2009

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Life is Good

by James Finn Garner

Winter’s been raw as a campout in Banff.
Your new basement walls are moldy and damp.
Your drapes caught fire from a knocked over lamp—

Relax!
Pitchers and catchers are reporting to camp.

Your check-writing hand’s developed a cramp,
Your bills are all due and you ain’t got a stamp,
Creditors cling to your neck like a clamp—

Smile!
Pitchers and catchers are reporting to camp.

Your yard now faces a new freeway ramp.
Your son’s engaged to a gold-digging tramp.
Your “guitar hero” neighbor’s just bought a new amp—

Life is good!
Pitchers and catchers are reporting to camp.

Reposted 2/13/20089

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The Closest Thing to a Cubs World Series

by Sid Yiddish

Now that Barack Obama has won the U.S. presidential election, it’s the closest thing the Northside will ever be in contention, let alone get to a World Series, even if Obama is from the Southside.
.

You see, unlike the Chicago Cubs fans who relentlessly enjoy beating up their rivals bloody, both physically and with words, the White Sox fans wouldn’t do it even if you offered them all the money in the world, because like Obama & his crew, all those guys who support those who wear the black & white uniforms know the right thing to do.
.

They know how to stick together, through all kinds of nasty weather and just rough it in the muddy playing fields, even if there’s no yielding or letting up or break in-between.
.

See, that’s how the Southside grows, just takes what they are given and goes with the flow.
.

So, it’s time to put aside that loveable losers blue and have a little pride for a change, because now that Obama has won the election, it’s a great victory for all of us!
.

Not
Republican
Versus
Dem.
.

Unlike Cubs fans who always cry out, “Wait ‘til next year,” next year is here for Obama and the rest of us, starting right now.

.

For more on Sid Yiddish’s poetry, music and performances, check out his My Space page.

Posted 11/13/08